MEMOIRS

OF THE

Life, Character, and Writings

OF THE

REV. DAVID TAPPAN, D. D.

To record the principal events in the lives of emi

nent men, and to delineate their characters, has always been considered a useful undertaking. “We "We naturally wish to be acquainted with those, who delight and instruct us, and to whose labours we feel ourselves indebted. Biographical memoirs, if faithfully executed, gratify this wish." We are peculiarly interested, when we behold a remarkable genius early displaying its powers, growing up to quick maturity, devoted to the most useful and sacred purposes, and cut off by death in the midst of its activity. Examples of this kind proclaim to us the uncertain tenure of human life, and yet teach us, that those, who have only a short passage through this world, may confer permanent benefits on mankind, and obtain a place in their esteem more lasting, and more honourable, than monuments of stone.

The Creator, designing the subject of these memoirs for a very important station, imparted to him corresponding advantages. By the talents which he inherited from nature, together with his moral and literary improvements, he was qualified for extensive usefulness. He was born April 21, 1752. His father, the Rev. Benjamin Tappan, of Manchester, had the principal

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care of his first years, and taught him the elements of knowledge. Early in life he discovered marks of a very ingenious, active mind. Before his admission into the university, he was placed, for a time, under the tuition of Mr. SAMUEL MOODY, Preceptor of Dummer Academy. At the age of fourteen years he was admitted into Harvard University. There, rising above juvenile follies and vices, and maintaining the character of a soberminded and virtuous youth, he diligently and successfully sought useful knowledge. Extending his views into future life, he preferred those attainments, which are solid and durable, before those which are showy or splendid. He was distinguished for ardent love of knowledge, for his blameless and serious conduct, and for his dutiful regard to the laws and guides of the institution.*

After leaving the university, he assiduously devoted his mind, more than two years, to the study of divinity, Occasionally employed in teaching a school. In

deed he had bestowed an uncommon share of attention on moral and religious subjects while at college, and from his earliest youth. Beside which, it is to be remembered, that early maturity was a remarkable trait in the character of his mind. Accordingly, his first performances in the desk displayed a fund of theological information, procured him a high place in the public es

The following notes are extracted from a manuscript sermon delivered shortly after the death of Dr. Tappan, by a very intimate and discerning friend, and brother in the ministry, who for many years was united with him in the same Association.

During the third year of his collegiate life, “a sickness, which brought him to a near view of death, was the means of such awakening and convictions, as he had not known before, and was followed, some months after, with such views of mind and actings of heart in divine things, as gave a new direction even to his unblamed and comparatively innocent life."

teem, and indicated the eminence, which he afterward attained. His hearers were surprised with the extent and pertinence of his thoughts, with his accurate and copious style, with the animation and solemnity of his utterance, and the fervour of his devotions.

A very harmonious church and society in Newbury soon invited his ministerial labours. At the age of twenty-one, he was ordained the pastor of that flock, in which office he continued about eighteen years.

He chose the sacred office from principle. It was his deliberate judgment, that the gospel ministry is, of all professions, the most important to mankind. That work, involving the best interests of intelligent creatures, accorded with his benevolence and piety. He made it the delightful business of his life to recommend to others that Saviour, whose glory had captivated his heart. He had the peculiar advantage, which belongs to all ministers, who are called of God, that when he preached the unsearchable riches of Christ, "he spake what he knew, and testified what he had seen." To this undoubtedly must be ascribed, in a great measure, his impressive manner of preaching. He spake from the fulness of his heart. No hearer could doubt, that he felt the reality and eternal importance of the truths he delivered.

The peculiar

As a preacher, he was evangelical. contents of the gospel were the principal subjects of his discourses. "He determined to know nothing, save Jesus Christ and him crucified." The gospel, as a revelation of grace to sinners, was the great subject, which he studied and explained. "Sensible that the revelation of mediatorial mercy is the chosen instrument of saving a ruined world; that he was divinely commissioned to publish and enforce it for this end; and that

its final completion will embrace the order, perfection, and happiness of the moral world, and the highest glory of its Author; he dwelt upon the sublime subject with eager and profound attention."* Those doctrines, which are the groundwork of revelation, were the groundwork of his preaching. Scarcely a sermon came from his lips, in which some of the peculiarities of evangelical truth were not found.

Every gospel

He was a very practical preacher. doctrine, he insisted, has its corresponding precept and duty. Speaking of the doctrines of human depravity, and salvation by the mercy of God, the atonement of Christ, and the sanctification of the Spirit, he says; "from these doctrines immediately result the duties of evangelical repentance and humility, faith and hope, gratitude and love, obedience and joy." He gave it as his opinion, "that Christian piety and morality must rise or fall, as the doctrines of grace, which support and exalt them, are regarded or neglected." By these sentiments he regulated his preaching. Whenever he inculcated the duties of Christianity, he did it chiefly by evangelical motives. Whenever he described a good man, he described him, as a character formed upon gospel principles; as a redeemed penitent sinner, pardoned through Christ, and regenerated by the Holy Spirit. He represented the believer's inward exercises and whole practice, as having a constant respect to the great scheme of mediatorial grace. In his painting of virtue and religion you would not see the image of Seneca or Plato, but that of David or Paul. You would hear the Christian, of his describing, humbly proclaiming the abundant grace of Christ, and, from a heart enraptured with his divine beauty, crying out, "Unto him, who hath loved us,

* Dr. Tappan's own words in describing a Christian minister.

and washed us from our sins in his blood, be honour and glory forever." At the same time he made it appear, that such affection to Christ is not only the surest evidence of an upright heart, but the most efficacious motive to a pious and useful life.

Dr. Tappan was impressed with the importance of plain and distinguishing preaching. He was happy in commanding a style, which had charms for all. While the refined hearer enjoyed its flowing elegance, the unrefined was edified with its plainness. Deeply affected himself with the necessity and worth of true religion, he laboured to describe it intelligibly and correctly, and to discriminate its saving exercises and fruits from every deceitful imitation. To this work his mind was early directed by the perusal of EDWARDS' Treatise on Religious Affections. It was often the drift of his discourses to point out the essential difference between the sanctified affections of the believer, and the best exercises of ' unrenewed heart. It was his serious endeavour, lay open the human heart to the view of mankind; ca trace its windings, its disguises, its corruptions; to expand all its latent seeds of abomination; to pluck off its mask of apparent virtue; to unfold the secret principles of human conduct, and distinguish appearances from realities; to detect the various biasses of self love and self deceit; to delineate every shape and form, which the unsanctified heart in various circumstances will assume, so that every sinner might see and recognise himself in the draught, and all classes of natural men. . . . might so perceive their moral diseases, as immediately to look for a suitable remedy."*

He was a very affectionate preacher. When addressing his fellow immortals, his heart was often enlarged

* Dr. T.'s sermon at the ordination of Rev. Timothy Dickinson.