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 !s E R M O N, 
 
 DELIVERED AT SHREWSBURY, 
 BY JOSEPH SUMNER, 
 
 June 23d, 1812; 
 
 THE DAY WHICH COMPLETED 
 
 FIFTY YEARS 
 
 FROM THE TIMS OF HIS INDUCTION INTO THE 
 
 PASTORAL OFFICE, 
 
 OVER THE 
 
 CHURCH AND PEOPLE IN THAT PLACE. 
 
 PUBLISHED Br DSSJSB. 
 
 I 
 
 PRINTED AT \i'ORCESTER, BY ISAAC STURTEVANT, 
 
 1812, 
 
V- 
 
 
SERMON, 
 
 PSALM, cxlv. 4. 
 
 oyE GENERATION SHALL PRAISE THY WORIfS TO ANOTHER, 
 AND SHALL DECLARE THY MIGHTY ACTS. 
 
 X HE works of God are a glorious 
 and continued display of his perfections. Day 
 unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night 
 shevveth knowledge of God. The works of cre- 
 ation and providence loudly proclaim through 
 all the earth his wisdom and his power. The 
 work of redemption more abundantly manifests 
 his grace and his mercy. This has employed 
 the thoughts, the tongues and the pens of 
 Patriarchs and Prophets, of Apostles and many 
 other devout men in various ages of the world. 
 This has been the admiration and joy of Saints 
 and of Angels, and will be celebratecj in their 
 united songs through all eternity. The works of 
 creation, providence and redemption, exhibit the 
 glories of Deity to men, and teach them their 
 duty to Him. Hence the importance of handing 
 down from one generation to anotlier, these works 
 of God, that they may excite our reverence and 
 fear of Himj our gratitude and praise, our hope 
 and trust. These important purposes are di- 
 rectly promoted by sacredj and are aided by all 
 
# 4 
 
 authentick history. Nations, which are not fa- 
 voured with divine revelation, possess much 
 knowledge of the works and ways of God, which 
 Divine Providence enables them to transmit 
 from one generation to another. In every age 
 God endows some with supereminent talents, to 
 perform distinguished services in the world, 
 and he raises up others to be the historians 
 of their deeds; and with these, they also regis- 
 ter many of the dealings of God with the chil- 
 dren of men, for the benefit of succeeding gen- 
 erations. 
 
 The works of God call for the notice and 
 praise of his rational offspring, because they 
 tend to the glory of the Creator, and to the in- 
 struction of his creatures. It is suitable at all 
 times to praise God for his works, and to speak 
 of hinlibr the improvement of the rising gener- 
 ation j Dut there are certain periods in the revo- 
 lutions of years, when it is proper to take a re- 
 trospection of the great events in Providence, 
 that we may impress our minds with the recol- 
 lection of those providential dispensations, 
 which have been conveyed to us by sacred and 
 profane history, to strengthen our own faith 
 and hope in God, and to establish these in 
 others. It is also our duty to register, and to de- 
 clare those works of God, which have been ex- 
 hibited to our view, while we have been upon 
 the stage of action. In this manner' one genera- 
 tion should praise God's works to another, and 
 declare his mighty acts. 
 
This day completes half a century since my 
 induction into the pastoral office over the Church 
 and people in this place. This connexion must 
 soon be dissolved, and I therefore desire to direct 
 your attention, 
 
 L To some of the advantages, which result 
 from the declaration of the works of God by one 
 generation to another. 
 
 II. To notice the principal events that have 
 taken place among us, during my ministiy, par- 
 ticularly those which had an immediate relation 
 to the inhabitants of this town. I shall close the 
 discourse by a few reflections, as the application 
 of our subject. — Permit me, 
 
 I. To direct your attention to some of the ad- 
 vantages which result from the declaration of the 
 works of God, bj- one generation to another. 
 
 The communication of important knowledge 
 from one generation to another is one principal 
 design of sacred history, which preserves the 
 knowledge of the state of innocence in which 
 God originally placed man, of his fall from this 
 state ; and of the provision made for his recove- 
 ry. We cannot but admire the wisdom, power 
 and goodness of the Creator in the formation of 
 man, in whose composition earth and heaven 
 were united ; a body formed of earth and won- 
 derfully constructed, and a spirit of understand- 
 ing given by the inspiration of the Almighty. 
 We are justly astonished, when w^e contemplate 
 the wonderful method devised and executed for 
 the recovery of the race of mankind from the state 
 
6 
 
 of ruin into which by their transgressions, they 
 had plunged themselves. The historical part of 
 scripture, and indeed the whole of the sacred 
 writings, is one continued history of the work 
 of redemption by Jesus Christ. The knowledge 
 of the interposi<^ion of God in favour of fallen 
 man was at first conveyed by tradition, one gen- 
 eration declaring the works of God to another, 
 for which the longevity of those early genera- 
 tions was favourable. Unity of design, steadi- 
 ness of co-operation, and a progress of discovery 
 respecting the great designs of God towards 
 man, were carried on from Adam to Noah, from 
 Noah to Abraham, and from Abraham to Moses, 
 one generation declaring the works of God to 
 another. Moses com.piled that part of the most 
 ancient, the most elegant and the most instruc- 
 tive of all Books, which contains the history of 
 the world from the creation to his own time. 
 After him, numbers were raised up to continue 
 the history of the dispensations of Providence 
 with the Jews and some neighbouring nations, 
 with which ihey had occasional intercourse, for 
 the space of two thousand years. All these dis- 
 pensations were intended to prepare the world 
 for the appearance of the Messiah, concerning 
 whom many predictions are interspersed in the 
 sacred writings, and of whom sacred history- 
 gives many types, in the characters of men who 
 were distinguished by a greater measure of 
 gifts and graces, exhibiting to the world exam- 
 ples of human excellence, as patterns for our 
 
imitation. Hence we are called to notice the 
 faith of Abraham, the innocence of Joseph, the 
 meekness of Moses, and the patience of Job. 
 
 We also derive much information respecting 
 the dispensations of Divine Providence from 
 authentick prophanc history. Every page of 
 which tends to confirm the sacred truth, that a 
 wise, powerful and benevolent Being governs the 
 universe ; who brings good out of evil, and order 
 out of confusion. History teaches us, that the 
 powers and efforts of men and of nations are of- 
 ten directed to purposes very different from the 
 original intention and design. The same Being 
 made the greatest things and the smallest ; all are 
 parts of the same system ; and what appears to 
 us the most inconsiderable, answers a useful end, 
 as our Saviour observes, not a sparrow falls to 
 the ground without the permission of God, and 
 the very hairs of our heads are numbered. As 
 nothing was made in vain, "so nothing comes to 
 pass without the appointment, or the permission 
 of God, some purpose therefore is intended by 
 every thing that happens, as well as by every 
 thing that is made. A design may not be so 
 apparent in small things as in great ; but the 
 hand of God is really in every event which hap- 
 pens, and a recognition of past events is a source 
 of useful instruction and improvement, for it 
 will be the means of increasing our knowledge 
 of God and of his works. What above all dis- 
 covers the hand of Providence, as well, as the 
 weakness and short sightedness of man is, that 
 
8 
 
 great events are often brought about contrary to 
 the intention of the persons, who were the princi- 
 pal instruments of them ; and by the very means 
 which were designed to produce contrary effects. 
 Thus persecution has always been the means of 
 promoting the persecuted religion, insomuch 
 that it has become a common proverb, ** The 
 blood of the Martyr is the seed of the Church." 
 On the contrary, the success and prosperity of a 
 nation have often proved the means of their ulti- 
 mate ruin. In like manner, small events, and 
 such as had no apparent connexion with the ef- 
 fect produced have been over-ruled to bring 
 about the greatest changes. Thus the desire of 
 Henry the Vlllth to be divorced from a wife, was 
 the means to produce the reformation in En- 
 gland, for which Protestants to this day rejoice. 
 
 Monuments erected in commemoration of 
 great events are all fading and mouldering into 
 dust. Monumental inscriptions, which are in- 
 tended to perpetuate the names of men, who were 
 greatly distinguished, as instruments in the im- 
 portant events of the world, are also perishing. 
 It is the faithful page of history only, that hands 
 down to posterity the great events of the world, 
 or the men who were conspicuous actors in them. 
 Here the knowledge of them may be acquired, 
 while the smallest vestiges of literature shall re- 
 main upon earth. — I pass, 
 
 2. To notice the principal events that have 
 taken place among us, during my ministry, par- 
 ticularly those, which had relation to the inhabi- 
 tants of this town. 
 
The last fifty years perhaps include as many 
 important changes, as the same space of time in 
 any period of the world. North-America, half 
 a century ago, was harmoniously connected with 
 Great-Britain, and the latter was then closing a 
 vigorous war with France and Spain. In the 
 former part of that war, we were unsuccessful; 
 but in the latter part, Providence greatly smiled 
 upon us, the British dominions were enlarged ; 
 and by the conquest of Canada this country was 
 delivered from the terrour of an inimical neigh- 
 bour. In consequence of this great event, our 
 country promised itself long peace and rest. The 
 most favourable opportunity was then offered to 
 increase our settlements, extend our borders, and 
 multiply our resources. Although these then 
 provinces of the British empire had no design of 
 becoming a separate nation, yet Divine Provi- 
 dence was preparing the way for this great event. 
 An extensive territory on the north and west, 
 which, at the close of the French war, was ceded 
 to Great-Britain, with a chain of fortresses orig- 
 inally erected for our annoyance, at the acknow- 
 ledgment of our independence, was included 
 within the limits of the United States. This ter- 
 ritory extends our national frontier, increases our 
 conveniencies, and adds to our security. 
 
 A perfect calm in the political world is not 
 long to be expected. The reciprocal happiness 
 of Great-Britain and the Colonies was too great to 
 be of long duration. Soon after the peace of 
 1763) trouble came rrom an unexpected quirter. 
 
iO 
 
 Great-Britain claimed a right to tax the colonies 
 without their consent, *' in all cases whatever, ''^ 
 and the claim gave general alarm. The opposi- 
 tion made to the encroachment upon American 
 liberty was so far successful, as to keep back the 
 dispute between the two countries from coming 
 to the last extremit}^ for about ten years j in which 
 time we were rising in strength for an appeal to 
 the Arbiter of the Universe, by the sword. A 
 long and distressing war ensued, which cost the 
 lives of many worthy citizens. Some of us still 
 remember the gall and worm.wood of those years, 
 during which scarcely a family escaped the bit- 
 terness of having some friend slain in battle, or 
 perishing in captivity. When we look back up- 
 on those scenes, in which we were either actors, 
 or spectators, we cannot but wonder, that the in- 
 fant colonies, so unprepared as they were for 
 war, should dare to engage with one of the most 
 powerful kingdoms of the earth; and at an early 
 period of the contest to assume a name and a 
 place among free and independent nations. But 
 the Divine counsels must and will stand. That 
 was the time appointed by Heaven, for a nation 
 to be born in a day; and circumstances were made 
 to concur for its accomplishment. The situation 
 of this country, from its first settlement by Euro- 
 peans, has been very different from that of most 
 others. In them; territory has been obtained by 
 conquest, and government established by the 
 sword. In this, the soil was purchased of the 
 original inhabitants, jtRd cultivated by the own- 
 
XI 
 
 crs, who, when they could no longer be governed 
 under the British crown agreeably to their native 
 privileges, framed a government for themselves, 
 and established it by mutual consent ; in all the 
 concerns of which Heaven favoured them, and 
 under which they, for a time, greatly prospered. 
 Haifa century ago, the number of inhabitants 
 in the district of country which now composes 
 the United States, was small in comparison with 
 our present numbers. The increase ot husband- 
 ry, navigation and commerce, has been in full 
 proportion to the population ; and all these, since 
 the revolution, have increased beyond example. 
 At the close of the revolutionary war, the naviga- 
 tion of this country was next to nothing ; but 
 within twelve years, the American flag was dis- 
 played in the ports of almost every commercial 
 state and kingdom upon the globe ; and had not 
 the spirit of enterprise been checked by commer- 
 cial embarrassments, we cannot calculate the de- 
 gree of wealth and respectability to which these 
 United States would have arisen by this time. — 
 New settlements have been greatly extended, and 
 four or five new States have been added to the 
 original thirteen. Settlements have been made, 
 churches formed, academies and colleges founded 
 and put into a flourishing condition, where less 
 than fifty years ago it was a howling wilderness. 
 The wilderness has become a fruitful field, and 
 the deserts made to blossom like the rose. ' ' Thus 
 the period has been replete with events in our 
 own country, which have astonished the car:?ful 
 
12 
 
 and wise observers of Divine Providence in hu- 
 man affairs,** which the historick page will de- 
 clare to posterity ; and in which future genera- 
 tions may trace the agency of the Almighty in 
 the support of his Church in the world. 
 
 From America, the spirit of liberty was carried 
 into France; but it could not there flourish. That 
 nation was not prepared to entertain it. Upon 
 throwing off" monarchy, they fell into anarchy, 
 and have been constrained at last to submit to a 
 military despotism. Instead of ameliorating 
 their condition, they have rendered it seven fold 
 worse than it was before. This might have been 
 expected, for under the influence of atheistick 
 philosophy, they destroyed the constitutions of 
 their religion, trampled upon the temples and the 
 worship of their God; and they declared death to be 
 an eternal sleep. An aspiring chieftain seized the 
 favourable moment to usurp dominion ; and he 
 has established an absolute despotism over the 
 nation. Not satisfied with the sceptre of France, 
 he has spread desolation among the nations of 
 Continental Europe; and by intrigue and the sword 
 has subjected many of them to a state of abject 
 slavery. How far he may be permitted to go, 
 and how long he may be permitted to be a scourge 
 to the earth, God only knows. 
 
 But the compass of one discourse will not per- 
 mit me to wanderamong the nations to declare the 
 works of God. These all in a wonderful man- 
 ner display his power, wisdom and goodness. — 
 In every country, there have been distinguished 
 
'3 
 
 characters raised up, who have provcc! great bles- 
 sings, or great curses to the nations which gave 
 them birth. They, who have been great and ex- 
 tensive blessings in their day, ought to be remem- 
 bered with respect. Many such, whose names 
 arc enrolled in the records of this country, were 
 brought upon the stage of publick life, during 
 the last half century i and took their several parts 
 in our revolution ; most of whom have done their 
 work and have passed off. There have been ma- 
 ny in the private walks of life, whose memories 
 may be as precious to us, as that of those who 
 moved in a publick sphere, whose example may 
 be as worthy of imitation ; and the copy more ex- 
 tensively useful. The general on the field of bat- 
 tle, and tlic statesman in the cabinet, may exhibit 
 something worthy the notice and imitation of 
 those who may act in a like capacity ; but to the 
 generality of mankind it is a copy, they do not 
 aspire to write af'^cr. It is the industrious, pru- 
 dent man, in private life, who sustains the char- 
 acter of an affectionate husband, a tender p.iront, 
 a kind neighbour, a good member of society, and, 
 which crowns all, of a good chii^tian, who sets 
 an example for general imitation ; and this copy- 
 may be useful for mankind at large. — In many 
 respects, the state of society, vyithui the last fifty 
 years, has been improved. Civilization has been 
 extended and knowledge increased. The slave 
 trade has been discountenanced within the United 
 States, and in the Northern States slavery is 
 wholly laid aside ; and wenre told, that tlie con- 
 
dition of slaves in the Southern Scates, as well as 
 in some other parts of the world is made better. 
 They are not only provided with more comforta- 
 ble food, but a degree of attention is paid to their 
 religious instruction ; and some of them are 
 christianized. These circumstances give us rea- 
 son to hope, that the time is approaching, when 
 all God*s rational offspring will enjoy civil and 
 moral freedom. 
 
 During the period within our review, inven- 
 tion has been upon the stretch in this country. 
 Many useful discoveries have been made in the 
 mechanical arts, by which much labour is saved, 
 and greater dispatch made. Another occurrence 
 which strongly characterizes this period, and ex- 
 hibits a still more favourable appearance respect- 
 ing mankind, and the Church of God is, the 
 charitable exertions that are making to spread 
 the gospel in our infant plantations, and among 
 the heathen. For these apostolic and glorious 
 purposes numerous societies have been formed, 
 and they give great encouragement to all, who 
 have any interest at the throne of grace, to pray 
 for the bringing in of the Jews, with the fulness 
 of the Gentiles, that when the people of God take 
 pleasure in the stones, and favour the dust of 
 Zion, that He would arise and build her up. 
 
 But as smaller events become important to 
 those, who by their local situation have an im- 
 mediate interest in them, I would notice some 
 things respecting the Church and Flock of God 
 in this place, and more particularly those, which I 
 
have taken place within the last fifty years. Some 
 of these may be worthy of attention, as they may 
 excite your gratitude to Heaven for the smiles of 
 Divine Providence upon the inhabitants of this 
 town from generation, to generation. We have 
 it from good authority, that the land which ori- 
 ginally composed the town of Shrewsbury, was 
 passed over by the proprietors of the adjacent 
 towns, because they thought it not worthy of be- 
 ing taken into their grants. Hence the form of 
 of it was irregular. But a governing providence 
 had not destined this tract to remain a waste. In 
 process of time it was to become a fruitful field. 
 In 17 1 7, it was granted to body of men, who were 
 not only enterprizing and industrious, but also re- 
 ligiously disposed. They considered publick wor- 
 ship and the publick institutions of religion to be 
 of the first importance, in their tendency to pro- 
 mote the highest interests of society, and to pre- 
 pare men individually for the kingdom ot 
 Heaven. About the year 1721, the first Meet- 
 ing-House in this place was built by the proprie- 
 tors. On the fourth of December, 1723, the 
 Church was gathered under the inspection of an 
 Ecclesiastical Council, which was convened for 
 the purpose of ordaining the first minister of the 
 town, the Reverend Job Cushing, who was cal- 
 led and settled by the proprietors ; and who was 
 distinguished for his prudence and general ex- 
 emplary deportment. He died, suddenly, August 
 6, 1760. 
 
i6 
 
 The land in the grant which composed Shrews= 
 bury was originally rough, and it had been great- 
 ly impoverished by frequent burnings by the 
 proprietors of neighbouring settlements. Much 
 hard labour was necessary to bring it into a state of 
 cultivation ; and the progress of ics settlement 
 was consequently slow ; but from personal ac« 
 quaintance with some of the first settlers, and 
 from correct information respecting others, I am 
 authorised to say, that they were remarkable for 
 their industry, frugality and temperance. It 
 seems that they attended unto, and embraced the 
 doctrine inculcated in the first sermon, that was 
 preached in the plantation. It was delivered by 
 the Reverend Mr. Breck of Marlborough, on 
 the 15th of June, 1720, from the following words, 
 viz : *' Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin 
 is a reproach to any people." It appears, 
 that they adopted the resolution of Joshua, that 
 as for themselves and their households, they 
 would serve the Lord. The Church when form- 
 ed consisted of sixteen male members ; and about 
 an equal number of female members was soon 
 after admitted into the Church, most of them 
 the partners of those who were first embodied. 
 It appears from the Church records, that within 
 four years, from the time the Church was gather- 
 ed, the heads of families, almost without except 
 lion, became members of it. The Church re- 
 mained in perfect harmony and peace for eight 
 years, when some dispute arose respecting disci- 
 pline, and particularly on the question, whether 
 
^7 
 
 Ruling Elders be a distinct office appointed by 
 apostolick authority ? This controversy contin- 
 ued about ten years, when a small number with- 
 drew from the church ; but they afterward re- 
 turned, and remained regular members until the 
 time of their death. This was the only contro- 
 versy, as far as I can learn, which has ever arisen 
 in this church. After the death of their first 
 pastor, and before the ordination of the second, 
 the church renewed their Christian obligations | 
 and at that time they added one article to their 
 covenant. This, after some years experience, 
 was found to be the ground of uneasiness to some 
 members, and an objection, in the minds of num- 
 bers, against seeking admision into the church.. 
 The article was in consequence rescinded by an 
 unanimous vote. During the fifty years of my 
 ministry, the church has scarcely in any instance 
 met, but for the management of its prudential 
 concerns ; and I have scarcely known a vote 
 passed which was not unanimous. 
 
 In December, 1742, the north part of Shrews- 
 bury was incorporated into a parish ; and in the 
 next year, fourteen male members of this church, 
 and sixteen female were dismissed and recom- 
 mended by this church : These, with some oth- 
 ers, were formed into a church state, on the 6rh 
 of October, 1743, when »he first minister was 
 ordained over the cj;iurch and people of that par- 
 ish. In March, 1786, this parish was incorpo- 
 rated into a town, by the name of Boylston ; and 
 in September, 1796, a second church was form- 
 c 
 
ed in that town, by a number of members from 
 the first church, together with some members 
 from the churches in Holden and Sterling ; and 
 this new society has since been incorporated into 
 a town, by the name of West Boylston. Three 
 houses for pubhck worship are now standing on 
 the original grant of Shrewsbury. 
 
 This church, when it renewed its covenant in 
 the year 1761, consisted of twenty eight male 
 members, the number of female cannot be ascer- 
 tained } but the communicants were more nu- 
 merous than the members of the church. Many 
 who moved into town did not remove their rela- 
 tions from the churches which they originally 
 joined, and become acting members of this body. 
 This church, from the first, has manifested a 
 candid spirit towards other denominations of 
 Christians. They have never refused commun- 
 ion to Christian professors, whose lives and con- 
 versation, in the judgment of charity, supported 
 their profession. Although emigration of church 
 members, as well as of other inhabitants of the 
 town, has been very considerable, yet the church 
 has been gradually increasing in numbers. There 
 have been ten officiating deacons in this churchy 
 since its formation. The two who were in of- 
 fice, when the second church was formed, fell 
 within the limits of that society. There is but 
 one individual now living in town, who was a 
 member of this church at the time of my ordina- 
 tion, this is a female; and there are, 1 believe, but 
 three persons now alive who were then members. 
 
19 
 
 Two hundred and sixty seven have been admit- 
 ted to full ccnnmunion during my ministry ; and 
 about one thousand one hundred and twenty have 
 been baptized. The births within this period were 
 between thirteen and fourteen hundred. The num- 
 ber of marriages I cannot precisely ascertain. I 
 have solemnized the marriage of four hundred and 
 ten couple, the greater part of whom emigrated. 
 The deaths have been about six hundred and fif- 
 ty. Between twelve and thirteen in a year. For 
 some of the first years of my ministry, 1 cannot 
 be answerable for ihe correctness of my bill of 
 mortality. The average number of deaths in the 
 year, since that time, has been a little more than 
 one to an hundred of the inhabitants. According 
 to the census in 1790, the population of the town 
 then was nine hundred and sixty three souls, in 
 1800, one thousand and forty three, and in 1810, 
 one thousand two hundred and ten. Thus hath 
 God increased our numbers. Did the inhabit- 
 ants of the town attend publick worship, as uni«- 
 versally at the present day, as they did fifty years 
 ago, this house would scarcely contain our assem- 
 bly. 
 
 From the first settlement of the place, our peo- 
 ple have been laudably disposed to make suita- 
 ble provision for the education of the rising gen» 
 eration. Not a few have felt themselves able, 
 and willing to give some of their children more 
 than a common school education ; by which they 
 have been qualified to become instructors in 
 schools, and to serve their generation in various 
 
20 
 
 Other useful departments. Twenty of our youth 
 have received a collegiate education within the last 
 iifty years, and three at an earlier period, many 
 of whom became respectable ministers of the 
 gospel ; and others of them have been distin- 
 guished in important offices of the government** 
 Few towns have been favoured with more gen- 
 eral health than this, for the last half century. 
 The greatest number of deaths, which has happen- 
 ed in any one year, took place in 1770. The can-- 
 kerrash, or throat distemper, then prevailed, and 
 
 * The Hon. Artemas Ward, Esq. was born in Shrewsbury, 
 November, 1727, and graduated at Harvard College, 1748.— 
 Soon after he received the commission of a Justice ot the Peace. 
 He was a field officer in the French war, in 1758, and in 176^, 
 v/as appointed a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for this 
 county, and in 1775 was constituted Chief Justice of this court ; 
 and fur a time he filled the office of Judge of Probate for th© 
 county. For many years he was the Representative of this 
 town in the General Court, he was chosen the Speaker of that 
 honourable body, and he for several years filled a seat at the 
 Council Board. When hostilities between Great Britain and 
 America were expected, the Provincial Congress of Massachu- 
 setts appointed him to command the forces of the Province ; and 
 at tlie commencement of the war, in in 1775, he commanded the 
 American army, near Boston, from April to July, when he was 
 superceded in this arduous duty by General Washington. Un- 
 der Congress, he was appointed the second in command in the 
 continental army, which commission he resigned soon after the 
 British troops evacuated Boston. Under the old confederation, 
 be was chosen a member of Congress, and was repeatedly elect- 
 ed a member of the House of Representatives in Congress ; after 
 the establishment of the Federal Constitution. He continued in 
 publick life until bodily infirmity obliged him to retire. He 
 die4 October 27, 1800. 
 
twenty seven persons died by it. Two families 
 lost four in each. In 1775, the dysentery was 
 brought into this place from the camp, and 
 proved fatal to numbers ; others of our inhabit- 
 ants died of various disorders, and the whole num- 
 ber of deaths in that year was nineteen. These 
 two were the years of our greatest mortality. A 
 large proportion of our people have attained to a 
 good old age ; and some to a degree of longevity, 
 which in modern times is rarely the lot of hu- 
 manity. John Keyes, Esq. died March 3, 1768, 
 at the age of ninety four, he left a widow who 
 lived to be ninety six years old, and they lived 
 together, in the married state seventy two years. 
 In 1790, one in fifty of our inhabitants had pass- 
 ed eighty years of age. Of these, one died in her 
 hundred and fifth year,* and another lived to be 
 an hundred and five years and two months old.*f- 
 They, who live the longest, find an appointed 
 time beyond which they cannot pass. One gen- 
 eration passeth away and another cometh. Every 
 year makes changes in families, in churches, and 
 in towns. 
 
 It is computed, that in this country, which is 
 considered as one of the most healthy in the 
 world, one half of the human race die under 
 twenty years of age. It is supposed, that in 
 twenty seven years, as many die, as are living at 
 any given period of time. The whole popula- 
 tion of the earth has been estimated, by some, at 
 
 * Widow Mary Jones. f Widow Ruth Garfield. 
 
1% 
 
 one thousand million. From these principles 
 we may calculate, that about thirty seven million 
 persons die, annually, on our globe; seven hundred 
 and twelve thousand every week ; one hundred 
 one thousand seven hundred and fifty daily ; four 
 thousand two hundred and thirty nine every hour i 
 and about seventy every minute. This number 
 of human beings is coming into, and passing 
 out of the world without intermission. *' What 
 an astonishing current of souls is rapidly borne 
 on the tide of time, incessantly shooting into the 
 ocean of eternity, and appearing before God in 
 judgment !"* According to this calculation, the 
 earth changes its inhabitants twice in a little more 
 than half a century. When we compare 
 our bill of mortality with the above estimation of 
 the mortality of the world, it will appear very 
 small j and we shall perceive our obligations to 
 bless and to praise God for his goodness mani- 
 fested towards us. 
 
 In this climate, healthy as it is, half a century 
 makes great changes in the inhabitants of our 
 land. It has changed all the ministers of the 
 Gospel in this extensive county, and very few 
 remain in the comonwealth, who were in the 
 ministry, at the time of my induction into office. 
 Thirty years have swept away almost all the 
 leading characters in the revolution. Rulers and 
 ruled, ministers and those to whom they minis- 
 tered, are gone upon the current of time. If we 
 
 • Rev. Dr. Trumbuilc 
 
23 
 
 look into families, we find very few instances 
 where both the heads continue for fifty years. 
 There arc but two such families now in this 
 town, which were here when I was ordained, 
 and there are vey few instances where either of 
 those, who were then heads of families, remain 
 unto this day. 
 
 APPLICATION. 
 
 The cursory review, we have taken of the 
 events of the last half century, naturally leads us 
 to serious reflections. This period of time has 
 been important, not because I, an unworthy min- 
 ister of Jesus Christ, have been continued among 
 you J but because it has been filled up with im- 
 portant publick events, and with concerns of 
 great personal interest to you, individually, or in 
 your connexion with domestick life. Almost 
 every one of you can recollect, that within this 
 period, a parent, a partner or a child has died. 
 Not one of of those years perhaps passed with- 
 out events highly important to some of us. Few 
 of us, who, have not been called within these 
 years, at different times, to take the place of 
 mourners, and to follow divers of our friends 
 to the silent mansion. Lovers and friends have 
 been taken from us, and put far into darkness. 
 We lamented their deaths. The wormwood 
 and the gall, our souls have still in remem- 
 brance- It is highly important, that we inquire 
 what effect those things have had upon us ? 
 Whether they have avvakened in us a carefulness. 
 to prepare for our own great and last diange ? 
 
&4 
 
 When wc look forward fifty years, they ap» 
 pear very long ; but when we look back fifty, 
 they appear very short. I cannot realize that 
 so many years have rolled away since the day, 
 when with fear and trembling, 1 took the over- 
 sight of this flock, then solemnly committed to 
 my charge. It had been my intention not to en- 
 ter into the ministry at so early a period ; but it 
 appeared toothers, as well as to myself, to be the 
 will of Providence that I should. I could not 
 doubt the sincere affection of those who invited 
 and solicited me to take the charge and oversight 
 of them in the Lord. I have reason gratefully 
 to recognize their candour and kindness to me 
 during my more youthful years, and even as long 
 as they were continued with us. But they are 
 numbered with the congregation of the dead. 
 Like candour and kindness I have reason to ac- 
 knowledge in the present generation. 1 am sen- 
 sible, that in such a long course of ministrations, 
 the manner and method of a preacher usually 
 become obsolete ; and, I trust, that while any 
 traces of reason remain with me, I shall not for- 
 get the kind reception I have met with from the 
 body of this people. The unhappy habit which 
 some of this society have formed, of neglecting 
 the publick institutions of religion, has been the 
 greatest discouragement, which I have experienc- 
 ed since my settlement. This has caused me to 
 entertain serious thoughts of discontinuing my 
 pastoral relation to this church and people, in 
 the hope, that a new preacher would engage the 
 attention of those, who habitually absent them- 
 
25 
 selves from publick worship and bring them off 
 from their dangerous neglect. But this, when I 
 have mentioned the thought, has been univer- 
 sally condemned by those, in whose wisdom 
 and friendship I have been accustomed to con- 
 fide. But my course is almost finished ; ac- 
 cording to the order of naiure, my work is al- 
 most done. I have been with your predecessors, 
 and with most of you in seasons of trial and af- 
 fliction. I have endeavoured to minister unto 
 you according to my feeble ability, in private, as 
 well as in publick, agreeably to the revealed will 
 of God. This I have taken for my guide with- 
 out enlisting myself under any dividing, human 
 name. It has been my endeavour to preach 
 Christ and Him crucified ; and to inculcate the 
 important duties of the Christian character. 
 With what success and profit, I have ministered, 
 will more fully appear on another day ; and 
 where no advantage has been derived from ths 
 means of grace in this place, it will then also 
 appear, who was the blameable cause. Ail I 
 have to say is, that as far as I know myself, I 
 have endeavoured to fulfil the ministry, which I 
 have received of the Lord Jesus ; and Providence 
 has favoured me with such general health, that I 
 have rarely failed in standing in my lot in pub- 
 lick ; or of obeying more private calls to minis- 
 terial duty. If life, health and any tolerable de- 
 gree of mental strength should be continued unto 
 me a little longer, 1 shall be willing to spend 
 these in your service. But I find the infirmities 
 
 D 
 
26 
 
 ot age increasing upon me ; especially men- 
 tal infirmities. These may perhaps increase so 
 fast, that I may not be sensible of my own de- 
 cays. — In that case, you will kindly prevent my 
 attempting to minister unto you. 
 
 According to the course of nature, you must 
 erelong be destitute of a minister ; you will not 
 therefore think it assuming, if I give you a word 
 of advice respecting the re-settlement of a Chris- 
 tian pastor. You will not, I presume, be willing 
 to live without the publick ministrations of the 
 gospel. As you have a fund for the support of 
 a congregational minister, which cannot be aUen- 
 ated to any secular purpose, nor converted to the 
 support of a minister of any other denomination 
 of Christians, there can, 1 trust, be no doubt that 
 on my decease, the pastoral office in this church 
 will soon be re-fillcd. Still I feel anxiety lest 
 divisions should arise among you. There are at 
 this day dividing names, among which many 
 preachers inlist ; I therefore take the liberty to 
 recommend the following things unto you. Let 
 your waiting eyes be unto God, not only in secret 
 and in private, but also in publick, with humilia- 
 tion and fasting. Take advice, especially of the 
 neighbouring ministers, who may well be sup- 
 posed have more acquaintance with candidates 
 than you can posses. Then hear and judge for 
 yourselves. Beware of such preachers as place 
 the essence of religion in external modes and 
 iorms, in dividing names, or in specula4ive mat- 
 ters, in themselves doubtful, and which would 
 
27 
 
 be useless, if their truth could be made certain. 
 They, who enrol themselves as the disciples of 
 this or that distinguished man in the Christian 
 world, feel that they are pledged to support his 
 peculiar system, and they call into exercise all 
 their metaphysical powers to persuade the less 
 informed, that they see further into hidden 
 things, than their fellow men. 
 
 There is, I conceive, more danger of deception 
 from these metaphysicians than from those, 
 who make the essence of religion to consist in 
 external rites, or in the mode of administering 
 them ; because the latter at first view, appear 
 so absurd, and savour so much of a pharisaical 
 spirit, that none but the most uninformed can be 
 deluded by them. The Congregational Society 
 in this town, in their fund, possess the best barrier 
 against sectarianism and fanaticism. Professions 
 are cheap things ; and many are willing to 
 offer that which costs them nothing. 1 urge 
 upon you diligently to search the scriptures, and 
 to try every man*s doctrine by this standard. — 
 Place not your dependence upon the creeds and 
 confessions of men, nor upon any human com- 
 position. If any man preach any other gospel 
 than that which you find in the scriptures, be- 
 lieve him not. If the scriptures be not a suffi- 
 cient rule of faith and practice, we cannot expect 
 to find this rule among human forms. It will be 
 a misapplication of the avails of your funds, to 
 apply them for such speculative preaching as 
 tends neither to enlighten the mind, nor to regu- 
 
28 
 
 late the practice. But as none but professed con- 
 gregationalists will have a right to a voice in the 
 choice of a minister here, I trust you will har- 
 monize upon this important subject. Having 
 witnessed in many places the unhappy conse- 
 quences which result from pushing the settle- 
 ment of a minister, in opposition to a respectable 
 minority, I cannot but caution you against this 
 error. The spirit of party is hereby excited, and 
 nn alienation of brethren ensues, which requires a 
 long time to remedy. In case of great division, 
 permit the individual who is the object of it, qui- 
 etly to depart, and invite a new candidate, look- 
 ing to God to unite you in his own time and way. 
 Be not too hasty in forming an opinion of your 
 candidate, but take time to satisfy yourselves re- 
 specting his doctrine^ his morals and his prudence. 
 Some appear better upon a slight acquaintance, 
 than they do when fully known. It is the com- 
 plaint of some societies, that their ministers preach 
 a different doctrine after their ordination, from 
 that which they preached while candidates. You 
 will therefore consider the im.portance of as full 
 an investigation, as in your power, of the integri- 
 ty, the knowledge, in a word, of the various qual- 
 ifications for a minister, possessed by your 
 candidate, before you proceed to settle him. 
 
 The review of the last half century naturally 
 leads us to inquire, what probably will be our sit- 
 uation before the next fifty years shall com.plete 
 their revolutions. What intervening changes 
 may take place with us, or any of ours, we can- 
 
29 
 
 not tell ; what sufferings are allotted us, what 
 conflicts we may be called to sustain, God only 
 knows ; but this one thing we know, the greater 
 part of us, who are now in the house of God, will 
 be in an eternity of happiness or misery, before 
 the expiration of half a century. It concerns us 
 all to reflect, for which of these states we are pre- 
 pared — Whether we are vessels of mercy prepar- 
 ing for glory, or, vessels of wrath, fitting for de- 
 struction. 
 
 What changes those of this audience will wit- 
 ness, who shall live fifty years from this time, is 
 beyond human foresight. Whether the Federal 
 union of these States will last half this time, is, 
 from present appearances, very doubtful. But 
 according to the best received interpretation of an- 
 cient prophecies, the Millennial state of the 
 Church, will commence about that time.* We 
 may rejoice in the anticipation of such a glorious 
 event, but the eternal state of most of us will be 
 fixed, before the arrival of this period. It con- 
 cerns us, one and all, to prepare ourselves for 
 whatever may take place in the Divine govern- 
 ment, while we shall be upon the stage of life. 
 More especially it concerns us to prepare for our 
 dissolution by death j from which no age is ex- 
 empt. We, who are old, may be assured that 
 
 * The Pope was formally invested with the authority of Uni- 
 versal Bishop by the Emperor Phocas, A. D. 606. Adding to 
 this period the 1260 days mentioned by Daniel, or, as is intend- 
 ed by prophetick days, J 260 years, we are brought to the year 
 1866, See Fader. 
 
30 
 
 our time on earth is short ; that we must soon go 
 the way, whence none return ; that the places, 
 which now know us on earth, will know us no 
 more. The greatest kindness we can exten dto 
 posterity, the greatest good we can do to those 
 who may succeed us in our respective places, is, 
 by a life of godliness and sobriety, to give our 
 dying tesimony for God and for religion. As 
 we wish, that posterity may enjoy the fruits 
 of our labour, and reap the fields we have culti- 
 vated, let us teach them by precept and example, 
 to fear God, to regard his word, his day yhis bouse, 
 his worship y his injunctions oi justice ^ benevolence 
 and charity. 
 
 Finally, let it be the care of all, to act their 
 parts well on the stage of life, and to approve 
 themselves faithful unto the death. May God of 
 hismercy grant, that in the day of judgement, we 
 may meet together at the right hand of Jesus, and 
 may be admitted into the kingdom of glory. 
 
 AMEN. 
 

 
 
 
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