SERMONS,

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH .

THE remark, which Addison, in the first number of

the Spectator, has so playfully made, that a reader

never peruses a. book with satisfaction until he knows

the personal qualities of the author, seems to be

peculiarly true when applied to orations and sermons.

In reading a spoken composition, our recollections of

fancy naturally recur to the speaker. We either re-

member his manner and read every sentence in con-

nexion with it, or, if we have had no knowledge of

the author, we supply the deficiency by a picture of

the imagination. We hear, in the ear of the mind, the

fervour and eloquence with which he poured forth his

thought. His cadence, his mien, his gestures accom-

pany every period, and mingle with every sentiment.

In cases, therefore, in which the imagination must be

busy, it is important that it should be guided by truth;

and since these Discourses will not suffer from the

iv BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

reader's possessing the most vivid conception of' the

author's utterance and character, we shall prefix to

them a short account of his life. We write not a

biography, but a sketch.

ELIJAH PARISH was born in Lebanon, Con. Nov.

of 7, 1762. His parentage was respectable; but like

most other scholars in New-England, he was obliged

to struggle with difficulties in obtaining a classical

education. In political history, it has long been ob-

served, that the founder of a dynasty may be distin-

guished, by his superiour vigour of mind, from one

born in the purple and inheriting a throne. The same

is true of two classes of scholars. The superiority is

always found among those who have acquired energy,

by conquering difficulties. Man must be goaded to

exertion by the scourge of necessity. He was grad-

uated at Dartmouth College, 1785. He chose the

study of divinity for his pursuit. It is probable at

this time, that religion had made an impression, salu-

tary and lasting, on his mind and heart. On this

subject he was remarkably unostentatious. He laid

claim to no vivid hopes or powerful excitements. The

story therefore of his progress in personal religion is

now unknown. But we need not lament the loss.

The only piety which he taught, or professed to prize,

was such as could be attested by the fruits.

In his youth there were no Theological Seminaries

in this country. He pursued his studies under the

direction of Rev. Ephraim Judson, of Taunton, Mass.

*Since writing the above, testimonies have been received from Mr. Pemberton,

his early instructer, and Rev. Mr. Kellogg, of Portland, to his early piety, and

scholarship.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. v

If Dr. Parish rose to eminence in his profession,

his merit can never be appreciated, unless we con-

sider the obstacles of the times, in which he came

forward. Young theologians can have no conception

of those difficulties, as they are now taught in richly

endowed seminaries, partaking of the prosperity of

the country. In his youth, war, confusion, national

distraction and poverty disturbed the seats of science,

and opposed the young candidate's progress both in

the paths of learning and religion. In the year 1787,

Dr. Parish was sett1ed in Byfield, a parish in the

town of Newbury, Mass. His early settlement affords

probable evidence of his youthful popularity.

The life of a humble preacher of truth, placed in a

peaceful village and engaged in a circle of duties,

which, though arduous, are still similar, cannot be

supposed to be crowded with events which sparkle in

narrative. The calling of Dr. Parish was honourable;

he made it laborious; and he appears to have experi-

enced in his ministry that blessing, which is prayed

for in the formula of the English church; that God

would pour upon his people the continual dew of his

blessing. It was not his aim in preaching to make an

impression on his people, which should adorn a nar-

rative in a newspaper. He was a gradual builder, but

his materials were solid stone. The continual dew

of a divine blessing is an expression, which best de-

scribes the effect of his instruction. Yet twice in his

ministry a peculiar solemnity pervaded his parish. In

the earlier part of his life, he encountered difficulties

among his people, -- when he died, there was not a

more united parish in the state. He was indeed a

vi BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

man peculiarly fitted to act in those scenes which try

men's souls. Decided in his views and firm in his

spirit, he walked in the path of danger with an un-

daunted heart. It is a rare event in modern times that

a clergyman is called to give such specimens of Chris-

tian courage. -- He boldly took his stand on the pedes-

tal of duty, nor was it the threats, or sneers of an

opposing world, that would induce him to leave it.

This was courage of the noblest kind; it is the very

resolution which a minister's profession requires. --

Thousands, who have faced the dangers of battle, have

been timid here. The teachers of religion, if they

mean to fill their station, must copy our departed

father, and to a holy heart add an independent

mind.

He was a diligent and successful student. Judging

from effects, we should conclude that Dr. Parish was

a man that seldom found an idle hour. He had a

mind which was uncommonly vigorous, and he was

uncommonly diligent to cultivate it. He was not one

of those ministers who close their books when they

leave the college, and who, if they can satisfy their I

I people, are satisfied themselves. His learning, as was

to be expected, was of the last age rather than this;

yet as a student, few were ever more industrious.

Many of his works are before the public, and of these

it is not necessary to speak. His most striking quality

was his eloquence. In his happiest efforts, few

equalled, and none could surpass him. Without those

thrilling tones, which sometimes make sound supply

the deficiencies of thought, and the most flimsy per-

formances pass for excellence, he led the intelligent

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. vii

ear from sentence to sentence, in which religion was

recommended by beauty, and instruction increased by

delight. He riveted attention to his theme; the friends

of truth were; confirmed in their views, and those who

rejected his arguments, acknowledged his power. His

style was vivid; abounding in expressions which

sunk on the memory, and illustrations, which reached

the heart. Every object of usefulness, or sublimity,

which he presented, was more than recognized, it was

seen and felt. Nothing was cold-nothing languid.

He was an orator in the highest, sense of the word.

The impression which he made on the hearers in pub-

lic, was repeated on the reader in his closet. He

came nearer to Massilon than to Whitefield. He

could not have melted the colliers of Bristol; nor

arrested the attention of the commonalty of Scotland;

but in a refined auditory, few could speak to more

acceptance, or leave a deeper impression on the heart.

But he is gone--that eloquent tongue shall speak

to us no more--or rather he speaks to us in another

language. He tells us in the dialect of the dead, that

gifts are nothing without graces--that in the world,

to which he has departed, they ask not what talents a

mortal has possessed, but how he has used them.

This venerable and departed man was a faithful

minister -- the best evidence, in his profession, of his

being a true Christian; and let me add, that he

formed an extensive conception of what faithful

preaching is. He left no part of duty untouched, no

sin uncensured. He endeavoured to occupy the whole

ground, displayed in the bible: and to make his in-

viii BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

structions as extensive as the wants of man. Though

belonging in his youth, and perhaps in his age, to a

theological school, which has been charged with

dwelling too exclusively on a few favourite points, he

was not a narrow preacher. He could reason and feel;

comfort the Christian or alarm the sinner; inculcate

faith, or insist on good works. His mind was replen-

ished with the fulness of the gospel. In this re-

spect I hardly know his equal. If the narrowness of

controversial divinity makes this mode of preaching

almost an experiment in religion, we may say the

experiment was peculiarly happy. Dr. Parish was

the instrument of turning many to righteousness.

In his person, he was below the middle stature.

His eye was keen and piercing; and left on the

observer, at the first interview, an impression of sar-

casm and severity. It is true, no man could give a

quicker reply, or had a repartee more at command,

than Dr. Parish. He could be severe, when severity

was necessary; yet in friendly intercourse he always

softened into an intelligent and agreeable companion.

In his conversation, there was opposition enough to

call forth conflicting opinions; and urbanity enough

to make the conflict not unpleasant.

When he mounted the pulpit to speak, he so

far resembled Ulysses, as to awaken no high ex-

pectation in the mind of the stranger. His com-

mencing utterance appeared rather monotonous; and,

in the first verse of the hymn, or the first sentence

of the discourse, there was a tone which savoured of

senility. But as he proceeded, warmed by his sub-

ject, every vestige of this fault vanished-he became

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. ix

animated, emphatic, glowing. He was fired himself,

and never failed to fire his audience. Yet there was

nothing of that overstepping the modesty of nature by

which some popular speakers acquire their eminence.

There was nothing disproportionate in his speaking;

of the truth of which, this is a proof; that young

preachers, who studied under him, never gave the

distorted features of his eloquence in disgusting imi-

tation.

As he was a decided man, he was obliged, like all

other decided men, in some parts of his life, to wade

through the waters of opposition. His activity in

politics acquired for him many enemies. Whether

he was right in taking such a prominent stand on a

subject not immediately connected with religion, we

shall not say. He shewed, at least, his decision.

It is proper, however, to reveal the whole truth; in

the latter part of his life, he wholly renounced all

concern with political affairs. To a friend, who once

spoke to him on the subject, he replied, "Politics is

like the variolous contagion, no man catches it a

second time."

With respect to the religious suspicion and obloquy,

to which he was, for a time subjected, we may speak

with more confidence. It arose from his independ-

ence of character; from his refusing to bow down to

the popular idols of the day. He was a friend to

religious liberty; he would have the human mind

assailed by no arms but those of persuasion and truth.

This makes his loss almost inestimable. In this age,

when some good men seem to have forgotten the

purpose for which our fathers crossed the ocean, and

x BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

erected, with infinite hazard, these western churches,

on principles as free as the spirit of benevolence

itself, -- his influence and example seem peculiarly

necessary. He found the happy medium of mixing

decision of sentiment, with candour to those who

differed from him. In his mind, as in that of the

great Watts, orthodoxy and charity were beautifully

combined. The truths embraced by our fathers, he

believed to be infinitely important to the happiness of

man; yet he was cautious of judging of intentions.

In declaring opinions, he spoke with confidence; but

persons he left to the tribunal of God.*

He considered both the great parties which now

divide our country as, in many respects, wrong; yet

he always boldly said that the genius of christianity

resided with the orthodox. Unitarianism, in his

mind, was a system, not without its plausible preten-

sions to a speculative mind. If man had no sins,

*To illustrate our manners, if ever this book should fall into the hands of a

foreigner, let me mention in a note, a circumstance which is certainly unworthy

of a place in the text. In Massachusetts, for a few years past, all ecclesiastical

measures have been prepared in a certain conclave, nobody knows who they are,

or where they are, -- invisible beings, --congregational cardinals, to whose decrees

every orthodox clergyman and church is expected to pay unlimited deference and

submission. But as they are wholly destitute of power, they have found out a

singular way of executing their laws. The clergyman, who hesitates, or dares to

think, or act for himself, suddenly finds himself surrounded by the whisper that he

is becoming an Unitarian. It is not easy to conceive the horrour and dismay, that

this suggestion occasions. It is caught from mouth to mouth, and whispered from

ear to ear, and every ghastly relater increases the terrours of the tale. The poor,

affrighted victim must either return to the bosom of the church, -- the popular

measure of the day, -- or be denounced a heretic, worthy of all the flames that

detraction can kindle: for, in this country, we burn heretics in no other. I will

only add, that this state of society is rather amusing; to say nothing of the mag-

nanimity of the great men, who condescend to use such weapons, it is singular

enough to see to what useful purpose the Unitarians may be put; they not only

serve as whetstones, on which staunch polemics may sharpen their weapons, but

they make excellent bugbears to keep naughty boys in order, the follies of the

wise!

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. xi

no sorrows, neither sickness, nor death, he might sit

down and admire the schemes of modern innovators,

as the traveller admires the morning rays refracted

around the ice and snow of some mountain's top;

but these beams, though bright, awaken no vegeta-

tion; he considered this system as wholly inadequate

to the wants and agonies of a mind really a wake to

eternal things. Faith wishes to repose on something

more substantial. He always said, however, that the

mode of opposing this system was not the best.

Whilst it is a novelty, and whilst therefore its advo-

cates can avail themselves of the ambiguous ground

that lies between innovation and improvement, he

said it might prevail. But it would soon become the

old religion; and have to drop its accidental preten-

sions, and encounter all the obstacles with which the

old religion has now to contend, without any of its

advantages. It could then no longer be said, "See

what improvement we are making; see what old

prejudices we are overthrowing." Falsa satiabunt.

The cloud is temporary, the sunshine eternal. Refrain

from these men, and let them alone. Acts v. 38.

Dr. Parish was married to Miss Mary Hale, in

1796, by whom he has children; three of whom

survive him. In the year 1819, he was called to

bury a very amiable daughter, a heavy affliction.

This event was never spoken of afterward but with

the deepest sympathy.

He was frequently called to preach on public occa-

sions. Before the legislature in 1810, the Election

sermon; before the convention 1821. This last ser-

mon will be found in this collection.

xii BIOGRPHICAL SKETCH.

In his last sickness, he was seen by the writer of

this biographical notice. His intellect was partially,

clouded, but not entirely lost. He was a sufferer,

but patient, tranquil, serene. He had always, in

his healthy days, expressed an opinion that death

was an event not to be trifled with; and he

doubted whether the indifference with which some

good men professed to regard it, is not the result

of ignorance rather than grace. He pronounced

himself never to be above fear. Yet when he was

asked, on the day before his expiration, what were

his views, he replied, "For reasons which appear to

me to be just, I rather wish to live; yet I leave the

event with God. Not my will, but his be done."

He died October 15th, 1825; and was followed to

the grave by the esteem of his friends, and the tears

of his people.

Besides occasional sermons, the works by which

he has already appeared before the public, are: The

Gazetteer of the Eastern continent, the History of New

England, Modern Geography, and Gazetteer

of the Bible.

These discourses are now presented to the public,