God’s Awful Judgment In The Breaking And Withering Of
The Strong Rods Of A Community
God’s Awful Judgment In The Breaking And Withering Of
The Strong Rods Of A Community
Ezekiel 19:12
Her strong rods were broken and
withered.
When God by death removes
from a people those in place of public authority and rule that have been as
strong rods, ’tis an awful judgment of God on that people, and worthy of great
lamentation.
IN
order to a right understanding and improvement of these words, these four things
must be observed concerning them.
1. Who she is that is here
represented as having had strong rods, viz. the Jewish community, who
here, as often elsewhere, is called the people’s mother. She is here compared
to a vine planted in a very fruitful soil, verse 10. The Jewish church and state
is often elsewhere compared to a vine; as in Psa. 80:8, etc.; Isa. 5:2; Jer.
2:21; Eze. 15, 17:6.
2. What is meant by her
strong rods, viz. her wise, able, and well qualified magistrates or rulers. That
the rulers or magistrates are intended is manifest by verse 11, “And she had
strong rods for the scepters of them that bear rule.” And by rods that were
strong, must be meant such rulers as were well qualified for magistracy, such as
had great abilities and other qualifications fitting them for the business of
rule. They were wont to choose a rod or staff of the strongest and hardest sort
of wood that could be found, for the mace or scepter of a prince; such a one
only being counted fit for that use; and this generally was overlaid with gold.
It is very remarkable that
such a strong rod should grow out of a weak vine. But so it had been in Israel,
through God’s extraordinary blessing, in times past. Though the nation is
spoken of here, and frequently elsewhere, as weak and helpless in itself, and
entirely dependent as a vine, the weakest of all trees, that cannot support
itself by its own strength, and never stands but as it leans on or hangs by
something else that is stronger than itself; yet God has caused many of her sons
to be strong rods fit for scepters; he has raised up in Israel many able and
excellent princes and magistrates, who had done worthily in their day.
3. It should be understood
and observed what is meant by these strong rods being broken and withered, viz.
these able and excellent rulers being removed by death. Men’s dying is often
compared in Scripture to the withering of the growth of the earth.
4. It should be observed
after what manner the breaking and withering of these strong rods is here spoken
of, viz. as a great and awful calamity, that God had brought upon that
people. It is spoken of as one of the chief effects of God’s dreadful
displeasure against them; “But she was plucked up in fury, she was cast down
to the ground, and the east wind dried up her fruit: her strong rods were broken
and withered, the fire hath consumed them.” The great benefits she enjoyed
while her strong rods remained, are represented in the preceding verse; “And
she had strong rods for the scepters of them that bear rule, and her stature was
exalted among the thick branches; and she appeared in her height with the
multitude of her branches.” And the terrible calamities that attended the
breaking and withering of her strong rods, are represented in the two verses
next following the text; “And now she is planted in the wilderness, in a dry
and thirsty ground. And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, which hath
devoured her fruit.” And in the conclusion in the next words, is very
emphatically declared the worthiness of such a dispensation to be greatly
lamented; “So that she hath no strong rod to be a scepter to rule. This is a
lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.”
That which I therefore
observe from the words of the text, to be the subject of discourse at this time,
is this, viz. When God by death removes from a people those in place of
public authority and rule that have been as strong rods, it is an awful judgment
of God on that people, and worthy of great lamentation.
In discoursing on this
proposition, I would:
I. Show what kind of rulers
may fitly be called strong rods.
II. Show why the removal of
such rulers from a people by death is to be looked upon as an awful judgment of
God on that people, and is greatly to be lamented.
I. I would observe what
qualifications of those who are in public authority and rule may properly give
them the denomination of strong rods.
First,
one qualification of rulers whence they may properly be denominated strong rods,
is a great ability for the management of public affairs. This is the case, when
they who stand in a place of public authority are men of great natural
abilities, men of uncommon strength of reason and largeness of understanding;
especially when they have a remarkable genius for government, a peculiar turn of
mind fitting them to gain an extraordinary understanding in things of that
nature. They have ability, in an especial manner, for insight into the mysteries
of government, and for discerning those things wherein the public welfare or
calamity consists, and the proper means to avoid the one and promote the other.
[It is] an extraordinary talent at distinguishing what is right and just, from
that which is wrong and unequal, and to see through the false colors with which
injustice is often disguised, and unravel the false and subtle arguments and
cunning sophistry that is often made use of to defend iniquity. They have not
only great natural abilities in these respects, but their abilities and talents
have been improved by study, learning, observation, and experience. By these
means, they have obtained great actual knowledge. They have acquired great skill
in public affairs, and things requisite to be known in order to their wise,
prudent, and effectual management. They have obtained a great understanding of
men and things, a great knowledge of human nature, and of the way of
accommodating themselves to it, so as most effectually to influence it to wise
purposes. They have obtained a very extensive knowledge of men with whom they
are concerned in the management of public affairs, either those who have a joint
concern in government, or those who are to be governed; and they have also
obtained a very full and particular understanding of the state and circumstances
of the country or people of whom they have the care, and know well their laws
and constitution, and what their circumstances require. Likewise, they have a
great knowledge of the people of neighboring nations, states, or provinces, with
whom they have occasion to be concerned in the management of public affairs
committed to them. These things all contribute to render those who are in
authority fit to be denominated “strong rods.”
Second,
when they have not only great understanding, but largeness of heart, and a
greatness and nobleness of disposition, this is another qualification that
belongs to the character of a “strong rod.”
Those that are by Divine
Providence set in a place of public authority and rule, are called “gods, and
sons of the Most High,” Psa. 82:6. And therefore it is peculiarly unbecoming
them to be of a mean spirit, a disposition that will admit of their doing those
things that are sordid and vile; as when they are persons of a narrow, private
spirit, that may be found in little tricks and intrigues to promote their
private interest. Such will shamefully defile their hands to gain a few pounds,
are not ashamed to grind the faces of the poor, and screw their neighbors; and
will take advantage of their authority or commission to line their pockets with
what is fraudulently taken or withheld from others. When a man in authority is
of such a mean spirit, it weakens his authority, and makes him justly
contemptible in the eyes of men, and is utterly inconsistent with his being a
strong rod.
But on the contrary, it
greatly establishes his authority, and causes others to stand in awe of him,
when they see him to be a man of greatness of mind, one that abhors those things
that are mean and sordid, and not capable of a compliance with them: one that is
of a public spirit, and not of a private narrow disposition; a man of honor, and
not of mean artifice and clandestine management, for filthy lucre; one that
abhors trifling and impertinence, or to waste away his time, that should be
spent in the service of God, his king, and his country, in vain amusements and
diversions, and in the pursuit of the gratifications of sensual appetites. God
charges the rulers in Israel, that pretended to be their great and mighty men,
with being mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink.
There does not seem to be any reference to their being men of strong heads, and
able to bear a great deal of strong drink, as some have supposed. There is a
severe sarcasm in the words; for the prophet is speaking of the great men,
princes, and judges in Israel (as appears by the verse next following), which
should be mighty men, strong rods, men of eminent qualifications, excelling in
nobleness of spirit, of glorious strength and fortitude of mind. But instead of
that, they were mighty or eminent for nothing but gluttony and drunkenness.
Third,
when those that are in authority are endowed with much of a spirit of
government, this is another thing that entitles them to the denomination of
“strong rods.” They not only are men of great understanding and wisdom in
affairs that appertain to government, but have also a peculiar talent at using
their knowledge, and exerting themselves in this great and important business,
according to their great understanding in it. They are men of eminent fortitude,
are not afraid of the faces of men, and are not afraid to do the part that
properly belongs to them as rulers, though they meet with great opposition, and
the spirits of men are greatly irritated by it. They have a spirit of resolution
and activity, so as to keep the wheels of government in proper motion, and to
cause judgment and justice to run down as a mighty stream. They have not only a
great knowledge of government, and the things that belong to it in theory, but
it is, as it were, natural to them to apply the various powers and faculties
with which God has endowed them, and the knowledge they have obtained by study
and observation, to that business, so as to perform it most advantageously and
effectually.
Fourth,
stability and firmness of integrity, fidelity, and piety, in the exercise of
authority, is another thing that greatly contributes to, and is very essential
in, the character of a “strong rod.”
He is not only a man of
strong reason and great discerning to know what is just, but is a man of strict
integrity and righteousness, firm and immovable in the execution of justice and
judgment. He is not only a man of great ability to bear down vice and
immorality, but has a disposition agreeable to such ability. He is one that has
a strong aversion to wickedness, and is disposed to use the power God has put
into his hands to suppress it. He is one that not only opposes vice by his
authority, but by his example. He is one of inflexible fidelity, who will be
faithful to God whose minister he is, to his people for good, and who is
immovable in his regard to his supreme authority, his commands and his glory;
and will be faithful to his king and country. He will not be induced by the many
temptations that attend the business of men in public authority, basely to
betray his trust; will not consent to do what he thinks not to be for the public
good, for his own gain or advancement, or any private interest. He is well
principled, and firm in acting agreeably to his principles, and will not be
prevailed with to do otherwise through fear of favor, to follow a multitude, or
to maintain his interest in any on whom he depends for the honor or profit of
his place, whether it be prince or people; and is also one of that strength of
mind, whereby he rules his own spirit. These things very eminently contribute to
a ruler’s title to the denomination of a “strong rod.”
Fifth,
and lastly, it also contributes to that strength of a man in authority by
which he may be denominated a “strong rod,” when he is in such circumstances
as give him advantage for the exercise of his strength for the public good; as
his being a person of honorable descent, of a distinguished education, a man of
estate, one advanced in years, one that has long been in authority, so that it
is become as it were natural for the people to pay him deference, to reverence
him, to be influenced and governed by him, and to submit to his authority. And
add to this, his being extensively known, and much honored and regarded abroad;
his being one of a good presence, majesty of countenance, decency of behavior,
becoming one of authority; of forcible speech, etc. These things add to his
strength, and increase his ability and advantage to serve his generation in the
place of a ruler, and therefore serve to render him one that is the more fitly
and eminently called a “strong rod.” — I now proceed,
II. To show that when such
strong rods are broken and withered by death, it is an awful judgment of God on
the people who are deprived of them, and worthy of great lamentation. — And
that on two accounts.
First,
by reason of the many positive benefits and blessings to a people that such
rulers are the instrument of.
Almost all the prosperity of
a public society and civil community does, under God, depend on their rulers.
They are like the main springs or wheels in a machine, that keep every part in
its due motion, and are in the body politic, as the vitals in the body natural,
and as the pillars and foundation in a building. Civil rules are called “the
foundations of the earth.” Psa. 82, and 11:3.
The prosperity of a people
depends more on their rulers than is commonly imagined. As they have the public
society under the care and power, so they have advantage to promote the public
interest every way. And if they are such rulers as have been described, they are
some of the greatest blessings to the public. Their influence has a tendency to
promote wealth, and cause temporal possessions and blessings to abound; and to
promote virtue amongst them, and so to unite them one to another in peace and
mutual benevolence, and make them happy in society, each one the instrument of
his neighbors’ quietness, comfort, and prosperity; and by these means to
advance their reputation and honor in the world; and which is much more, to
promote their spiritual and eternal happiness. Therefore, the wise man says, Ecc.
10:17, “Blessed art thou, O land, when they king is the son of nobles.”
We have a remarkable
instance and evidence of the happy and great influence of such a strong rod as
had been described, to promote the universal prosperity of a people, in the
history of the reign of Solomon, though many of the people were uneasy under his
government, and thought him too rigorous in his administrations, see 1 Kin.
12:4. “Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his
fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.” 1 Kin. 4:25.
“And he made silver to be among them as stones for abundance.” Chap. 10:27.
“And Judah and Israel were many, eating and drinking and making merry.” 1
Kin. 4:20. The queen of Sheba admired, and was greatly affected with, the
happiness of the people, under the government of such a strong rod. 1 Kin. 10:8,
9, “Happy are the men (says she), happy are these thy servants which stand
continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom. Blessed be the Lord thy God
which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel; because the Lord
loved Israel forever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and
justice.”
The flourishing state of the
kingdom of Judah, while they had strong rods for the scepters of them that bare
rule, is taken notice of in our context; “her stature was exalted among the
thick branches, and she appeared in her height with the multitude of her
branches.”
Such rulers are eminently
the ministers of God to his people for good. They are great gifts of the Most
High to a people, blessed tokens of his favor, and vehicles of his goodness to
them; and therein are images of his own Son, the grand medium of all God’s
goodness to fallen mankind. Therefore, all of them are called, sons of the Most
High. All civil rulers, if they are as they ought to be, such strong rods as
have been described, will be like the Son of the Most High, vehicles of good to
mankind, and like him, will be as the light of the morning when the sun riseth,
even a morning without clouds, as the tender grass springing out of the earth,
by clear shining after rain. And therefore, when a people are bereaved of them,
they sustain an unspeakable loss, and are the subjects of a judgment of God that
is greatly to be lamented.
Second,
on account of the great calamities such rulers are a defense from. Innumerable
are the grievous and fatal calamities which public societies are exposed to in
this evil world, from which they can have no defense without order and
authority. If a people are without government, they are like a city broken down
and without walls, encompassed on every side by enemies, and become unavoidably
subject to all manner of confusion and misery.
Government is necessary to
defend communities from miseries from within themselves; from the prevalence of
intestine discord, mutual injustice, and violence. The members of the society
continually making a prey one of another, without any defense from each other.
Rulers are the heads of union in public societies, that hold the parts together;
without which nothing else is to be expected than that the members of the
society will be continually divided against themselves, everyone acting the part
of an enemy to his neighbor, everyone’s hand against every man, and every
man’s hand against him; going on in remediless and endless broils and jarring,
until the society be utterly dissolved and broken in pieces, and life itself, in
the neighborhood of our fellow-creatures, becomes miserable and intolerable.
We may see the need of
government in societies by what is visible in families, those lesser societies,
of which all public societies are constituted. How miserable would these little
societies be, if all were left to themselves, without any authority or
superiority in one above another, or any head of union and influence among them?
We may be convinced by what we see of the lamentable consequences of the want of
a proper exercise of authority and maintenance of government in families, which
yet are not absolutely without all authority. No less need is there of
government in public societies, but much more, as they are larger. A very few
may possibly, without any government, act by concert, so as to concur in what
shall be for the welfare of the whole; but this is not to be expected among a
multitude, constituted of many thousands, of a great variety of tempers and
different interests.
As government is absolutely
necessary, so there is a necessity of strong rods in order to it: the business
being such as requires persons so qualified; no other being sufficient for, or
well capable of, the government of public societies: and therefore, those public
societies are miserable that have not such strong rods for scepters to rule, Ecc.
10:16, “Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child.”
As government, and strong
rods for the exercise of it, are necessary to preserve public societies from
dreadful and fatal calamities arising from among themselves; so no less
requisite are they to defend the community from foreign enemies. As they are
like the pillars of a building, so they are also like the walls and bulwarks of
a city. They are, under God, the main strength of a people in the time of war,
and the chief instruments of their preservation, safety, and rest. This is
signified in a very lively manner in the words that are used by the Jewish
community in her lamentations, to express the expectations she had from her
princes, Lam. 4:20, “The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the Lord, was
taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the
heathen.” In this respect also such strong rods are sons of the Most High, and
images or resemblances of the Son of God, viz. as they are their saviors
from their enemies; as the judges that God raised up of old in Israel are
called, Neh. 9:27, “Therefore thou deliverest them into the hand of their
enemies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trouble when they cried unto
thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and according to they manifold mercies,
thou gavest them saviors, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies.”
Thus both the prosperity and
safety of a people under God, depends on such rulers as are strong rods.
While they enjoy such blessings, they are wont to be like a vine planted in a
fruitful soil, with her stature exalted among the thick branches, appearing in
her height with the multitude of her branches; but when they have no strong rod
to be a scepter to rule, they are like a vine planted in a wilderness that is
exposed to be plucked up, and cast down to the ground, to have her fruit dried
up with the east wind, and to have fire coming out of her own branches to devour
her fruit.
On these accounts, when a
people’s strong rods are broken and withered, it is an awful judgment of God
on that people, and worthy of great lamentation: as when king Josiah (who was
doubtless one of the strong rods referred to in the text) was dead, the people
made great lamentation for him. 2 Chr. 35:24, 25, “And they brought him to
Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in one of the sepulchers of his fathers.
And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. And Jeremiah lamented for
Josiah: and all the singing-men and the singing-women spake of Josiah in their
lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold,
they are written in the lamentations.”
APPLICATION
I come now to apply these
things to our own case, under the late awful frown of Divine Providence upon us,
in removing by death that honorable person in public rule and authority, an
inhabitant of his town, and belonging to this congregation and church, who died
at Boston the last Lord’s day.
He was eminently a strong
rod in the forementioned respects. As to his natural abilities, strength of
reason, greatness and clearness of discerning, and depth of penetration, he was
one of the first rank. It may be doubted whether he has left his superior in
these respects in these parts of the world. He was a man of a truly great
genius, and his genius was peculiarly fitted for the understanding and managing
of public affairs.
And as his natural capacity
was great, so was the knowledge that he had acquired, his understanding being
greatly improved by close application of mind to those things he was called to
be concerned in, and by a very exact observation of them, and long experience in
them. He had indeed a great insight into the nature of public societies, the
mysteries of government, and the affairs of peace and war. He had a discernment
that very few have of those things wherein the public weal consists, and what
those things are that expose public societies; and of the proper means to avoid
the latter, and promote the former. He was quick in his discerning, in that in
most cases, especially such as belonged to his proper business, he at first
sight would see further than most men when they had done their best. But yet he
had a wonderful faculty of improving his own thoughts by meditation, and
carrying his views a greater and greater length by long and close application of
mind. He had an extraordinary ability to distinguish right and wrong, in the
midst of intricacies, and circumstances that tended to perplex and darken the
case. He was able to weigh things as it were in a balance, and to distinguish
those things that were solid and weighty from those that had only a fair show
without substance; which he evidently discovered in his accurate, clear, and
plain way of stating and committing causes to a jury, from the bench, as by
others hath been observed. He wonderfully distinguished truth from falsehood,
and the most labored cases seemed always to lie clear in his mind, his ideas
being properly ranged. And he had a talent of communicating them to everyone’s
understanding, beyond almost anyone. If any were misguided, it was not because
truth and falsehood, right and wrong, were not well distinguished.
He was probably one of the
ablest politicians that ever New England bred. He had a very uncommon insight
into human nature, and a marvelous ability to penetrate into the particular
tempers and dispositions of such as he had to deal with, and to discern the
fittest way of treating them, so as most effectually to influence them to any
good and wise purpose.
And never perhaps was there
a person that had a more extensive and thorough knowledge of the state of his
land, and its public affairs, and of persons that were jointly concerned with
him in them. He knew this people, and their circumstances, and what their
circumstances required. He discerned the diseases of this body, and what were
the proper remedies, as an able and masterly physician. He had a great
acquaintance with the neighboring colonies, and also the nations on this
continent, with whom we are concerned in our public affairs. He had a far
greater knowledge than any other person in the land, of the several nations of
Indians in these northern parts of America, their tempers, manners, and the
proper way of treating them. [He] was more extensively known by them than any
other person in the country. And no other person in authority in this province
had such an acquaintance with the people and country of Canada, the land of our
enemies, as he had.
He was exceeding far from a
disposition and forwardness to intermeddle with other people’s business. But
as to what belonged to his proper business, in the office he sustained, and the
important affairs of which he had the care, he had a great understanding of what
belonged to them. I have often been surprised at the length of his reach, and
what I have seen of his ability to foresee and determine the consequences of
things, even at a great distance, and quite beyond the sight of other men. He
was not wavering and unsteady in his opinion. His manner was never to pass a
judgment rashly, but was wont first thoroughly to deliberate and weigh an
affair; and in this, notwithstanding his great abilities, he was glad to improve
by the help of conversation and discourse with others (and often spake of the
great advantage he found by it), but when, on mature consideration, he had
settled his judgment, he was not easily turned from it by false colors, and
plausible pretenses and appearances.
And besides his knowledge of
things belonging to his particular calling as a ruler, he had also a great
degree of understanding in things belonging to his general calling as a
Christian. He was no inconsiderable divine. He was a wise casuist, as I know by
the great help I have found from time to time by his judgment and advice in
cases of conscience, wherein I have consulted him. And indeed I scarce knew the
divine that I ever found more able to help and enlighten the mind in such cases
than he. And he had no small degree of knowledge in things pertaining to
experimental religion. But was wont to discourse on such subjects, not only with
accurate doctrinal distinctions, but as one intimately and feelingly acquainted
with these things.
He was not only great in
speculative knowledge, but his knowledge was practical; such as tended to a wise
conduct in the affairs, business, and duties of life; so as properly to have the
denomination of wisdom, and so as properly and eminently to invest him with the
character of a wise man. And he was not only eminently wise and prudent in his
own conduct, but was one of the ablest and wisest counselors of others in any
difficult affair.
The greatness and
honorableness of his disposition was answerable to the largeness of his
understanding. He was naturally of a great mind; in this respect he was truly
the son of nobles. He greatly abhorred things which were mean and sordid, and
seemed to be incapable of a compliance with them. How far was he from trifling
and impertinence in his conversation! How far from a busy, meddling disposition!
How far from any sly and clandestine management to fill his pockets with what
was fraudulently withheld, or violently squeezed, from the laborer, soldier, or
inferior officer! How far from taking advantage from his commission or
authority, or any superior power he had in his hands; or the ignorance,
dependence, or necessities of others; to add to his own gains with what properly
belonged to them, and with what they might justly expect as a proper reward for
any of their services! How far was he from secretly taking bribes offered to
induce him to favor any man in his cause, or by his power or interest to promote
his being advanced to any place of public trust, honor, or profit! How greatly
did he abhor lying and prevarication! And how immovably steadfast was he to
exact truth! His hatred of those things that were mean and sordid was so
apparent and well known, that it was evident that men dreaded to appear in
anything of that nature in his presence.
He was a man of a remarkably
public spirit, a true lover of his country, and who greatly abhorred sacrificing
the public welfare to private interest. — He was very eminently endowed with a
spirit of government. The God of nature seemed to have formed him for
government, as though he had been made on purpose, and cast into a mold, by
which he should be every way fitted for the business of a man in public
authority. Such a behavior and conduct was natural to him, as tended to maintain
his authority, and possess others with awe and reverence, and to enforce and
render effectual what he said and did in the exercise of his authority. He did
not bear the sword in vain. He was truly a terror to evildoers. What I saw in
him often put me in mind of that saying of the wise man. Pro. 20:8, “The king
that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his
eyes.” He was one that was not afraid of the faces of men; and everyone knew
that it was in vain to attempt to deter him from doing what, on mature
consideration, he had determined he ought to do. — Everything in him was
great, and becoming a man in his public station. Perhaps never was there a man
that appeared in New England to whom the denomination of a great man did
more properly belong.
But though he was one that
was great among men, exalted above others in abilities and greatness of mind,
and in the place of rule, and feared not the faces of men, yet he feared God. He
was strictly conscientious in his conduct, both in public and private. I never
knew the man that seemed more steadfastly and immovably to act by principle, and
according to rules and maxims, established and settled in his mind by the
dictates of his judgment and conscience. He was a man of strict justice and
fidelity. Faithfulness was eminently his character. Some of his greatest
opponents that have been of the contrary party to him in public affairs, yet
have openly acknowledged this of him, that he was a faithful man. He was
remarkably faithful in his public trusts. He would not basely betray his trust,
from fear or favor. It was in vain to expect it. However men might oppose him or
neglect him, and how great soever they were: nor would he neglect the public
interest committed to him, for the sake of his own ease, but diligently and
laboriously watched and labored for it night and day. And he was faithful in
private affairs as well as public. He was a most faithful friend; faithful to
anyone that in any case asked his counsel. His fidelity might be depended upon
in whatever affair he undertook for any of his neighbors.
He was a noted instance of
the virtue of temperance, unalterable in it, in all places, in all companies,
and in the midst of all temptations. Though he was a man of great spirit, yet he
had a remarkable government of his spirit; and excelled in the government of his
tongue. In the midst of all provocations from multitudes he had to deal with,
and the great multiplicity of perplexing affairs in which he was concerned, and
all the opposition and reproaches of which he was at any time the subject; yet
what was there that ever proceeded out of his mouth that his enemies could lay
hold of? [He had] no profane language, no vain, rash, unseemly, and unchristian
speeches. If at any time he expressed himself with great warmth and vigor, it
seemed to be from principle and determination of judgment, rather than from
passion. When he expressed himself strongly, and with vehemence, those that were
acquainted with him, and well observed him from time to time, might evidently
see it was done in consequence of thought and judgment, weighing the
circumstances and consequences of things.
The calmness and steadiness
of his behavior in private, particularly in his family, appeared remarkable and
exemplary to those who had most opportunity to observe. He was thoroughly
established in those religious principles and doctrines of the first fathers of
New England, usually called the doctrines of grace, and had a great
detestation of the opposite errors of the present fashionable divinity, as very
contrary to the Word of God, and the experience of every true Christian. And as
he was a friend to truth, so he was a friend to vital piety and the power of
godliness, and ever countenanced and favored it on all occasions.
He abhorred profaneness, and
was a person of a serious and decent spirit, and ever treated sacred things with
reverence. He was exemplary for his decent attendance on the public worship of
God. Who ever saw him irreverently and indecently lolling, and laying down his
head to sleep, or gazing about the meetinghouse in time of divine service? And
as he was able (as was before observed) to discourse very understandingly of
experimental religion, so to some persons with whom he was very intimate, he
gave intimations sufficiently plain, while conversing of these things, that they
were matters of his own experience. And some serious persons in civil authority,
who have ordinarily differed from him in matters of government, yet on some
occasional close conversation with him on things of religion, have manifested a
high opinion of him as to real experimental piety.
As he was known to be a
serious person, and an enemy to a profane or vain conversation, so he was feared
on that account by great and small. When he was in the room, only his presence
was sufficient to maintain decency; though many were there accounted great men,
who otherwise were disposed to take a much greater freedom in their talk and
behavior, than they dared to do in his presence. He was not unmindful of death,
nor insensible of his own frailty, nor did death come unexpected to him. For
some years past, he has spoken much to some persons of dying, and going into the
eternal world, signifying that he did not expect to continue long here.
Added to all these things,
to render him eminently a strong rod, he was attended with many
circumstances which tended to give him advantage for the exerting of his
strength for the public good. He was honorably descended, was a man of
considerable substance, had been long in authority, was extensively known and
honored abroad, was high in the esteem of the many tribes of Indians in the
neighborhood of the British colonies, and so had great influence upon them above
any other man in New England. God had endowed him with a comely presence, and
majesty of countenance, becoming the great qualities of his mind, and the place
in which God had set him.
In the exercise of these
qualities and endowments, under these advantages, he has been as it were a
father to this part of the land, on whom the whole country had, under God, its
dependence in all its public affairs, and especially since the beginning of the
present war. How much the weight of all the warlike concerns of the country
(which above any part of the land lies exposed to the enemy) has lain on his
shoulders, and how he has been the spring of all motion, and the doer of
everything that has been done, and how wisely and faithfully he has conducted
these affairs, I need not inform this congregation. You well know that he took
care of the country as a father of a family of children, not neglecting men’s
lives, and making light of their blood; but with great diligence, vigilance, and
prudence, applying himself continually to the proper means of our safety and
welfare. And especially has this, his native town, where he has dwelt from his
infancy, reaped the benefit of his happy influence. His wisdom has been, under
God, very much our guide, and his authority our support and strength, and he has
been a great honor to Northampton, and ornament to our church. He continued in
full capacity of usefulness while he lived. He was indeed considerably advanced
in years, but his powers of mind were not sensibly abated, and his strength of
body was not so impaired, but that he was able to go long journeys, in extreme
heat and cold, and in a short time.
But now this “strong rod
is broken and withered,” and surely the judgment of God therein is very awful,
and the dispensation that which may well be for a lamentation. Probably we shall
be more sensible of the worth and importance of such a strong rod by the want of
it. The awful voice of God in this providence is worthy to be attended to by
this whole province, and especially by the people of this county, but in a more
peculiar manner by us of this town. We have now this testimony of the divine
displeasure, added to all the other dark clouds God has lately brought over us,
and his awful frowns upon us. It is a dispensation, on many accounts, greatly
calling for our humiliation and fear before God; an awful manifestation of his
supreme, universal, and absolute dominion, calling us to adore the divine
sovereignty, and tremble at the presence of this great God. And it is a lively
instance of human frailty and mortality. We see how that none are out of the
reach of death, that no greatness, no authority, no wisdom and sagacity, no
honorableness of person or station, no degree of valuableness and importance,
exempts from the stroke of death. This is therefore a loud and solemn warning to
all sorts to prepare for their departure hence.