Christ Victorious Over the Powers of Darkness, Proceedings
THE foregoing Sermon was both pr…ceeded and followed with fervent Prayer, ſuted to the very ſerious Occaſion; wherein the Rev. Mr. William Cooper and Mr. John Webb were the Mouth of the Audience to GOD;
Dr. Colman, who had been choſen Moderator by the Reverend and Honourable Council, then took the Desk, and ſaid,
IT is a rare and ſingular Occurrence in the Providence of GOD, that hath call'd this Great and Reverend Aſſembly together at this Time. And no doubt but many who are here preſent may deſire to be inform'd of the ſeveral Things, occurring in the Providence of a Glorious GOD, which have been the Occaſion of our preſent Meeting. And I think that I cannot better introduce the Solemn Action before us, in the Ordination of the Reverend and beloved Brethren here preſent, than by giving the following Account.
KNOW then,†See a printed Account of the Society in Scotland. 1720. that in the Year of our LORD 1701. a Number of private Gentlemen did uſually meet in the City of Edinburgh for the Reformation of Manners; who reflecting on the Ignorance, Atheiſm, Popery and Impiety, that did ſo much abound in the High-lands and Iſles of Scotland, did juſtly reckon that they flow'd in a great Meaſure from the Want of ſutable Means of Inſtruction.
THIS led 'em to engage by themſelves at firſt in a voluntary Subſcription for Erecting Charity Schools in thoſe Places of Darkneſs and Irreligion. But upon Trial finding Themſelves not able in their private Capacity to carry on ſo great and publick a Work, they apply'd their Thoughts to find out Methods for a Fund equal to the Deſign.
IN purſuance of this they mov'd it privately to Members of the General Aſſembly, that the Repreſentatives of the Church of Scotland might concur in the Work. And they had ſo much Succeſs that in the Year 1706. the General Aſſembly took it under Conſideration, and recommended it to their Commiſſion, who publiſhed Propoſals for the Propagating of Chriſtian Knowledge in their High-lands and Iſles, and alſo in Foreign Parts.
THESE Propoſals we… ſent to all the Presbyteries in Scotland, and to the ſeveral Societies there for Reformation of Manners: And in the Year 1708, Application being made to Her Majeſty, Queen ANN, to countenance and ſupport the Deſign by Her Royal Authority; it pleas'd Her Majeſty, with the Advice of Her Privy Council to approve and recommend this moſt pious and charitable Deſign, and to grant Her Letters Patents for Erecting the Subſcribers into a Society and Corporation for managing the ſame.
PERSONS of the higheſt Dignity in the Nation, both Dukes and Earls, ſtand at the Head of this Commiſſion; with a long Train of Names of known Honour and Merit, and of diſtinguiſhing Character for Piety and Religion.
THE firſt Subſcription was ſomewhat above One Thouſand Pounds Sterl. which within twelve Years increaſed to above Eight Thouſand: So that a vaſt Number of Charity Schools have been erected and are now ſupported by the Honourable Society: And they have their Correſponding Members at London, Dublin, Briſ…o…; in Holland, and now lately here in New England. For they are expreſly impower'd by the Letters Patents erecting them into a Society, to nominate fit Perſons in any Place of His Majeſty's Dominions, or elſewhere, for laying our ſuch Sums as They are intruſted with.
ACCORDINGLY the Honourable Society being unanimouſly reſolved to imploy ſeveral Miniſters of the Goſpel, as their Miſſionaries for the Converſion of Infidel Foreign Countries, choſe to make the poor Heathen People about New England the firſt Objects of their Care; to bring them to the Knowledge of GOD in CHRIST.
To which End They did on the twenty ninth Day of April 1731. at a General Meeting nominate, commiſſionate and impower His Excellency Jonathan Belcher Eſq with other Honourable and Reverend Perſons, to be their Correſpondents and Commiſſioners: And the firſt Thing they are Entruſted with is to purſue the excellent Deſign of the late Reverend and Charitable Dr. Daniel Williams of London, in his pious Mortification of an Eſtate of Fifty Six Pounds Sterling per Annum, to the Society; toward the Support of three qualified Miſſionaries, to labour in the Converſion of the poor periſhing Natives on our Borders.
HIS Excellency in his great Wiſdom, upon the Receipt of theſe Letters, laid the Matter before the Honourable General Court then …itting, who readily teſtified their high Approbation of the propoſed Miſſion, by granting an Additional Honourable Support to each of the Miſſionary's for five Years.
ALSO He was pleas'd to write to the Society, who have printed His Excellency's Letter,
THAT He had receiv'd Their Commiſſion, and did accept of being a Correſpondent Member; that He gives Praiſe to GOD who inſpired the Founders of this excellent Charity to Souls: And that as the KING has made Him the Head and Father of this Part of His Dominions, He therefore return'd Thanks to the Society in behalf of the poor Natives of the Country: And that the Society might depend on the united Endeavours of their Correſpondent Members here, to do all the good Service they can in this pious Undertaking, &c.
THE Commiſſioners, under this Influence and Encouragement, ſet themſelves to find Perſons qualified and inclin'd to undertake a Miſſion of ſuch Weight and Importance: and through the good Hand of GOD with them there willingly offer'd Themſelves, upon the Motion made to them, Mr. Stephen Parker, Mr. Ebenezer Hinſdel, and Mr. Joſeph Secomb; who have been already Miniſtring in the Places aſſigned them more than a Year.
AND now at the Call of the Commiſſioners, by Direction from the Honourable Society, whoſe They are under CHRIST, for the glorious Ends propoſed; They do this Day here preſent Themſelves before the LORD and his People, in His Fear and with a Reliance on his Grace which is A…ſufficient; to take on them this Miniſtry among the Heathen; weighty difficult and awful as it is in it ſelf, but moſt honourable in the Kingdom of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.
AND a Number of the Reverend Paſtors of the Town, having received from the before named Miſſionaries a ſatisfying Declaration of their Adherence to the Principles of Religion, as they are contained in the Holy Scripture and exhibited in the Aſſembly's …, are here preſent to commend Them by Prayer, with Impoſition of Hands, to the Grace and Bleſſing of GOD.
THE Reverend Elders and Meſſengers of the Churches, conven'd in Council on this Occaſion, do by their Preſence ſufficiently declare their Conſent unto and Approbation of the Ordination that is before us: And if there are any in the Aſſembly, that have any thing to object againſt our proceeding in the holy Action before us; either as to the Doctrine, Principles, Life and Converſation of the before named Mr. Stephen Parker, Mr. Ebenezer Hinſdel and Mr. Joſeph Se…mb, they are called upon to declare the ſame.—
No Objection being made, it remains only to addreſs my Self to You my dearly beloved Brethren and honoured in the LORD: For the LORD JESUS highly honours You before his People, in this extraordinary Call He gives You to bear his Name unto the Heathen; and therein to do the Work of Evangeliſts (in part at leaſt) by his Grace in you and with you.
"DO You therefore now in the Preſence of CHRIST, and before this Aſſembly as the LORD's Witneſſes; before GOD Angels and Men, willingly and freely, with Humility and Fear, offer your Selves firſt unto the LORD, and then to the ſervice of Souls; as in the Work of the Miniſtry in general, ſo in a particular manner in that Miſſion to which you eſteem your ſelves called of GOD, by His ſpecial and ſingular Providence, to carry the Goſpel among the Heathen in our Borders? And will you, by His Grace, ſo long as GOD continues you the Opportunity, humbly, diligently, faithfully apply your ſelves to this Work of the LORD, as Thoſe that muſt give an Account?"
THE Miſſionaries in a very ſerious manner ſignifying their Submiſſion and Conſent to this very awful Promiſe and Vow; the Moderator told them that the Length of the Exerciſe, and the Coldneſs of the Seaſon prevented Him from repeating to Them, on this publick Occaſion, ſome of thoſe Inſtructions which they had received from our Honourable Conſtituents; which as he doubted not they had often and ſeriouſly conſidered, ſo he had thought to have received from them their public Conſent to the ſame as in the Preſence of CHRIST.
THESE Inſtructions are as follow.‖Commiſſion and Inſtructions to the Miſſionaries in New-England. You are to inſtruct the Heathen People, as GOD gives you Opportunity, in the Principles of the Chriſtian, Reformed, Proteſtant Religion: And in order thereunto, not only to preach and catechize, but alſo to ſchool and teach them to read the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Teſtament, and other good and pious Books*Suppoſed that they will be prevail'd on to learn.. You are alſo to teach them Writing and Arithmetick, and to underſtand and ſpeak the Engliſh Language. You are eſpecially to direct them how to pray, and to carry as becometh the Goſpel. And when you ſhall judge them fit to receive the Seals of the Covenant of Grace, you are to adminiſter the ſame unto them; and uſe your beſt Endeavours to confirm ſuch in the Truths of our Holy Religion, and to engage them to perſevere therein.
IN all this†Letters of Inſtruction to Miſſionaries. you are to act conſcienciouſly, depending on GOD for Counſel, Strength, Furniture, and Succeſs. Let the Glory of GOD, and the Salvation of precious Souls be your chief Motive. You are employ'd on a very important and glorious Work, and will much want the Help of the SPIRIT OF GOD therein. Remember your Bleſſed REDEEMER's Inſtruction to his Diſciples, Matth. x. 16. Behold, I ſend you forth as Sheep in the midſt of Wolves; be ye therefore wiſe as Serpents, and harmleſs of Doves.
YOU muſt look for Difficulties and Diſcouragements, and therefore ſtudy Patience, Self-denial, Humility, Forbearance; and carry with all Meekneſs and Love toward thoſe with whom you have to do. Let your Deportment and Management be ſuch, as they may ſee that you ſeek their Good; and take the moſt gaining Methods with them.
YOU are alſo frequently to report an Account of your Diligence and Succeſs, to the Societies Correſpondents here. But your great Care muſt be to approve your ſelves to GOD, who ſees and tries the Heart, and to WHOM you muſt give an Account. And GOD make you thoſe faithful and wiſe Servants who ſhall do it with Joy and not with Grief. In the Hope whereof we ſhall now immediately proceed to lay our Hands upon You, according to the Direction of the Goſpel, and to pray over you in the Name of the LORD.
THE Moderator then left the Desk, and the Miniſters came down to the Seat prepared for the Candidates before the Pulpit, and about Ten of the Paſtors preſent laying on Hands, the Moderator pray'd,
GIVING Glory to the Supream and Immenſe JEHOVAH, the LORD OF HOSTS ſitting upon a Throne high and lifted up, and his Train filling the Temple! Who walks in the midſt of the golden Candleſticks, and holds the Stars in his right Hand! Whoſe Eyes are as a Flame of Fire, and He will make the Churches to know that He ſearches the Hearts and the Reins.
ADORING HIM in the Condeſcentions of his Grace that His Tabernacle is with Men on Earth, and that we have ſeen the Goings of our GOD and King in his Sanctuary! while Seraphims are covering their Faces before Him, and crying One to Another, Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD OF HOSTS! And while We are of unclean Lips, and dwell among a People of unclean Lips.
SUPPLICATION was then made for Pardon and Cleanſing thro' the Sacrifice of CHRIST, which is for the Prieſthood and the Congregation; that the LORD would ſend his Angel as with a live Coal from his Altar, to touch our Hearts and Lips to take away Iniquity and purge away Sin! that if then the LORD's Voice come to us, ſaying, Whom ſhall I ſend? and who will go for Us▪ our purified Hearts might readily anſwer, Here am I, ſend me!
THANKSGIVING was then render'd to GOD, that He has a Church in the World, bought with his Blood, to be ſanctified and cleanſed with the waſhing of Water, by the Word! and for a glorious SAVIOUR, Head over all things to the Church, who is aſcended on High and has received Gifts for Men even for the rebellious, that the LORD GOD might dwell among us! and has given Prophets, Apoſtles, Evangeliſts, Paſtors and Teachers, for the Work of the Miniſtry and the Edifying his Body! that He has ſet up his Kingdom among us, ſhewn us his Covenant, made known to us his holy Sabbaths, and committed to us the Miniſtry of Reconciliation! that He has appointed and is calling from Age to Age an Order of Men to Miniſter in holy Things whom he ſends to diſciple all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the FATHER and of the SON and of the HOLY GHOST, teaching them to obſerve all Things whatſoever He has commanded, with whom He has promis'd to be always even to the End of the World.
MORE particularly CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD was thanked that He was pleas'd to be now putting into the Miniſtry theſe his Servants who were now preſenting Themſelves before the LORD and his People, to give Themſelves firſt unto the LORD, and then to the Service of Souls by his holy Will.
PRAYERS were therefore pour'd out to GOD for Them, that He would pleaſe to call them effectually by his Grace, and to reveal his SON in them, that they may preach Him among the Heathen, as well as in the Churches of the Saints, not conferring with Fleſh and Blood; but accounting it a diſtinguiſhing Honour, that unto Them (the leaſt of all Saints) this Grace ſhould be given, to preach among the Heathen the unſearchable Riches of CHRIST.
THAT the Grace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST might be therefore exceeding abundant to Them, with Faith and Love, to enable them to encounter and ſurmount the Difficulties of this Miſſion; that it may appear they are choſen Veſſels to the LORD, to bear his Name before the Gentiles: And that GOD would ſhew them how great Things he will do for them and by them, if by their Miniſtry the Heatheniſh People may be Fellow-Heirs and of the ſame Body with us; Worſhipping the true and living GOD in Spirit and in Truth, and in the Name of the One MEDIATOR between GOD and Man, the Man CHRIST JESUS, who is GOD over all, bleſſed for ever! No longer ſerving dumb Idols as they have been led, nor worſhipping Angels and Saints that are no Mediators.
THAT a wide and effectual Door may be opened to them, by the Power of the HOLY GHOST, who once ſaid—Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the Work unto which I have called them: That this Manner of Entring in unto the Heathen may be granted them, to turn unto GOD from Idols, and to wait for his SON from Heaven! to turn them from Darkneſs to Light, and from the Power of Satan unto GOD; that they may receive the Forgiveneſs of Sin and an Inheritance among all them that are ſanctified.
THAT the Goſpel may be preached by them with the HOLY GHOST ſent down from Heaven, and be the Power of GOD unto the Salvation of many Souls; as it is unto all them that believe, both to the Greeks and to the Barbarians, to the wiſe and to the unwiſe; for therein is the Righteouſneſs of GOD revealed from Faith to Faith.
WHEREFORE according to the Direction of the HOLY WORD we humbly laid our Hands on them in the Name of the GOD of all Grace, as His devoted Servants; ſeparating them to his ſpecial Service in the Work of the Miniſtry, imploring the ETERNAL SPIRIT to deſcend and reſt on them, to enlighten them in his Truth, to ſpirit 'em for his Service, to be in them the Spirit of Grace and Supplication; to aſſiſt, ſupport, comfort and ſucceed them in his Work: to furniſh 'em abundantly with Miniſterial Gifts and Graces, to direct 'em in their Holy Studies, to aſſiſt them in their publick Adminiſtrations; to inſpire them with pure Aims and fervent Zeal for his Glory, and with tender Compaſſion to precious Souls; to make 'em able and faithful Miniſters of the New Teſtament, wiſe to Salvation, and wiſe to win Souls; And that the Blood of HIM, who thro' the ETERNAL SPIRIT, offer'd up Himſelf without Spot to GOD, may purge their Conſciences from dead Works, to ſerve the living GOD in Righteouſneſs and Holineſs before Him, all the Days of their Life.
Prayer being ended the CHARGE was given in the following Words.
HAVING pray'd over You in the Name of the LORD, commended you to His Grace, and ſeparated you to his ſpecial Service in the Work of the Miniſtry; We do in His Name declare you to be Authorized Miniſters of the Goſpel.
AND we charge you before GOD and the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who ſhall judge the quick and the dead at his Appearing and Kingdom: Preach the Word; be inſtant in Seaſon and out of Seaſon; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long ſuffering. Give attend…ce to Reading, to Exhortation and Doctrine. Give your ſelves to Prayer and to the Miniſtry of the Word; give your ſelv… wholly to them▪ that in ſo doing you may both … your ſelves and thoſe that hear you.
HOLD the Myſtery of Faith in a pure Conſcience, ſhewing Uncorruptneſs, G…vity, Sincerity. Hold faſt the Form of ſound Words which you have heard, with Faith and Love that is in CHRIST JESUS. Hold faſt the faithful Word, and rebuke with all Authority.
… the LORD with all Humility: Keep back nothing that is profitable to Souls: Shun no… to declare the whole Counſel of GOD. Study to ſhew your ſelves approved of GOD, Workmen that need not be aſhamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. Preach not your ſelves, but CHRIST JESUS the LORD; and your ſelves the Servants of Souls for JESUS ſake.
ADMINISTER the Sacraments of the New Teſtament, as wiſe and good Stewards of thoſe heavenly Myſteries. Impartially diſpenſe the Diſcipline of the Goſpel, putting a Difference between the Holy and pro…e. Watch for Souls as thoſe that muſt give an Account. Seek that which is loſt, bind up that which is broken, ſtrengthen that which is ſick.
WATCH in all things, endure Afflictions, do the Work of Evangeliſts, make full Proof of your Miniſtry. Be blameleſs, be ſober, be vigilant, and of good Behaviour. Be Examples to Believers in Word, in Converſation, in Charity, in Spirit, in Faith, in Purity. Flee youthful and worldly Luſts; from which if a M…n purge Himſelf, and follow after Righteouſneſs. Faith, Charity, Peace, with all that call on the LORD out of a pure Heart, He ſhall be a Veſſel of Honour ſanctified and meet for the Maſter's Uſe, and prepared unto every good Work.
AS Men of GOD foil… after Righteouſneſs, Godlineſs, Faith, Love, Patience, Meekneſs. Them that Sin rebuke before all, that others may fear. Lay hands ſuddenly on no Man, neither be Partakers of other Mens Sins; keep your ſelves pure.
B… ye not aſhamed of the Teſtimony of the LORD, nor of the Po… to whom you are ſent; but labour in the Word and Doctrine, that they may be Evangelized by your Travels among them; and you ſhall be accounted worthy of double Honour. Be ye Partakers of the Afflictions of the Goſpel according to the Power of GOD; for the LORD hath not given us the ſpirit of Fear, but of Power and of Love and of a ſound Mind.
BE ſtrong in the Grace that is in CHRIST JESUS. Endure Hardneſs as good Soldiers in his Cauſe; endure all things for the ſake of the Elect, that they may obtain Salvation which is in Him with Eternal Glory. It is a faithful Saying, that if we be dead with Him we ſhall live with Him, if we ſuffer with Him we ſhall reign with Him, if we deny Him He will deny us.
INSTRUCT thoſe that oppoſe themſelves, if GOD peradventure will give them Repentance unto the Acknowledgement of the Truth; that they may recover themſelves out of the Snare of the Devil. Continue ye in the Things which you have learned and been aſſured of, knowing from whence you have received them; and that from your Childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wiſe unto Salvation; to perfect the Man of GOD, and throughly to furniſh him unto every good Word and Work. Be ye therefore ſtedfaſt, immoveable and always abounding in the Work of the LORD, as knowing that your Labour ſhall not be in vain in the LORD.
WE give you Charge, each of You, in the ſight of GOD who quickneth all things, and before JESUS CHRIST who before Pontius Pilate witneſſed a good Confeſſion, that you obſerve theſe Things and keep this His Commandment without Spot, unrebukable, until his Appearing and Kingdom. And the LORD ſtand by you and ſtrengthen you, that by you the Heathen may hear and believe! the LORD deliver you from every evil Work, from wicked and unreaſonable Men, and preſerve you to his heavenly Kingdom! To H… be Glory for Ever! Amen.
The Charge was followed with a ſhort Prayer for the Enlargement of the Kingdom of CHRIST thro' the whole Earth: And … was render'd to GOD for bringing our Fathers into this Wilderneſs to plan… the Goſpel here; and for Wiſdom and Largeneſs of Heart given Them to lay thoſe Foundations for Religion and Learning, which GOD has been pleaſed to own and bleſs unto this Day.
IN particular, Glory was given to GOD for all that our Fathers did in their Day toward Goſpelizing the Heathen, and Shame was taken to our ſelves that no more had been done in ours.
The Engliſh and Indian Teachers, who are entred into the Labours of our Fa…e…s, were commended to the ſpecial Grace of our LORD JESUS, and the Perſons n…w … in their Miſſion to the more diſtant … or …; That the Hand of the LORD may be with them, and their Hands be made ſtrong by the Mighty GOD of JACOB! that they may ſee of the Travel of the Soul of CHRIST in a glorious Succeſs! that the miſerable Nati…s may be reſcu'd from the Deluſions of … and …, and from the Love of Strong …rink, the Sin that eaſily … them, and drowns 'em in Perdition.
THE ſpecial Bleſſings of Providence were ask'd on the Honourable Society in Scotland, and on the like in England and other Places, for propagating Chriſtian Knowledge, That Grace, Mercy and Peace may be multiplied to them! and they that ſow and thoſe that reap may rejoyce together.
THE living GOD was alſo bleſs'd for the "Dead that die in the LORD, reſt from their Labours and their Works follow them; and the particular Legacy, the Foundation of the preſent Miſſion was humbly preſented before the LORD, as bequeathed to His Glory, and the Salvation of Souls periſhing in Ignorance of Him.
THE Direction of GOD was alſo ask'd for the Commissioners at all Times, and a gracious Diſmiſſion from the House of GOD to the Aſſembly; That both Miniſters and People mighty carry away the Bleſſing, with Forgiveneſs of the Sins of Holy Duties.
THE Reverend Mr. Prince was then declared choſen by the Venerable Council to give the Right Hand of Fellowſhip in their Name: Who did it with the following Speech.