Part 2

These remarkable men of whom we speak, though slumbering in death, as we have said, are nevertheless invested with all the elements of a breathing, living, speaking power. Their souls, regenerated, justified, sanctified, glorified, live in heaven, and celebrate together the anthems of redeeming love. And they live also in the influence of their ministry, example, labours, successes, conflicts, and triumphs, in the ministers they ordained, in the churches they planted, and in the souls they were instrumental in saving from eternal burnings. In this respect they will never, never die.

But it may be expected in this connection, that I should make a special reference to the revered father that has so recently taken his departure to the spirit world.

Joseph Crandal was the son of Webber and Mary Crandal (originally Mary Vaughn) of Friertown, Rhode Island. His parents emigrated to Nova Scotia the year before the American revolution, and settled in Chester. He was then in his infancy. His mother died when he was thirteen years of age; and not many years after his father died also, leaving him a lonely orphan in a cold-hearted world. But God was merciful to him, and in his providence made all needful provision for his support. It would appear that his mother was a pious woman; for when she was about to depart this life, she summoned her son to her bedside, took him by the hand, and said, “Joseph, the Lord has a great work for you to do when I am dead and gone.” Had she spoken by the spirit of prophecy, she could not have spoken more truthfully. These words, uttered with all the pathos of a dying mother’s love, made an impression that never left him. His convictions of sin and of the need of salvation, were greatly strengthened by the ministrations of Handley Chipman, and Joseph Dimock, who visited Chester to proclaim the gospel message. Years, however, passed before he obtained peace in believing. These were long years of anxious concern about his soul. While thus troubled in spirit, business called him to Onslow, and on the Sabbath he attended a meeting conducted by Harris Harding and Joseph Dimock. In that meeting the power of God was signally manifest: and suddenly this young man had such a discovery of the glorious majesty of Jehovah as to fill him with the utmost dismay. His sins rose up before him steeped in crimson guilt, and he saw himself justly condemned to endless misery, and could behold no way of escape. Anguish and horror inexpressible filled his soul, and he expected soon to sink in eternal woe. But unexpectedly to himself, the way of salvation by the cross was opened to his view. He saw that it just suited his case as a lost condemned sinner and he embraced it with his whole heart. It was a glorious moment in his history. So overpowered was he by what he saw and felt, that he could not refrain from telling all around him of the preciousness and fullness of a Saviour’s love.

In a series of letters addressed to the Visitor by Mr. Crandal in 1853, he thus speaks of this wondrous change—“My mind was completely absorbed in the solemn and marvellous scene. It appeared to me that the whole human race were exposed to endless ruin, and were altogether at the disposal of that holy being whose glory had so overwhelmed my soul. I saw mercy so connected with the justice of God, that they were both one; that what God had done in the person of Christ was alone sufficient to save all that would come to God for mercy through Jesus Christ; and I felt as though the whole creation ought to know what I felt and saw; for indeed it appeared of more importance to me than the whole world. I continued speaking for more than an hour. I could not hold my peace, for it was like the bursting forth of an overflowing fountain. A world of sinners came up before men, like a vast field, to which I could see no end. When the scene had passed from me, I looked around me, and the two ministers, Joseph Dimock and Harris Harding, were weeping, and many more wept for joy.”

Such, my hearers, were some of the most important features in the early experience of Joseph Crandal, and is highly characteristic of the religion of the early Christians of these Provinces. The truth of God, as revealed in his Word, by a long process of conviction, followed by a distinct and in many cases marvellous conversion, became to them a matter of personal experience; and this prepared them to speak the truth in the love of it.

By this experience of the power and grace of the gospel, Father Crandal, though dead, still lives, for in his case we see the riches of Divine goodness wondrously displayed. Was he a lost sinner? So are we. Did he need a change of heart to fit him for God’s work? So do we. Were the blood and righteousness of Christ his only hope? So in respect to us. We, my hearers, must experience the same grace, or we shall perish in our sin.

2. Notice his call to the ministry of the Gospel.

This, like his conversion, occasioned a painful struggle in his mind. Shortly after he had tasted the sweetness of the Saviour’s love, he became impressed with the idea that he ought to devote his life to the Christian ministry; but how could he think of doing so—no education, no means of obtaining it; and how could he venture to embark in so great a work without it. Conscious insufficiency in himself held him back, while the holy impulses of the love of Christ in his soul impelled him forward. While labouring under severe trails in reference to his call to the ministry, he became convinced, from reading the Scriptures, that he ought to be baptized, and accordingly he was buried with Christ in baptism by Elder Joseph Dimock. Shortly after this event, he was induced to accompany Harris Harding on a preaching mission to Liverpool, not intending, as we suppose, to preach himself. It so happened that he attended several meetings before the Sabbath. Here again we will quote his own language. He says— “On the Lord’s day we met at the meeting house; Elder Payzant preached in the morning, and Harris Harding in the afternoon. At the close of Mr. Harding’s sermon, he called upon me to pray. I had not expected to be called upon, and felt much cast down in my mind. It seemed as though a dark cloud of spiritual gloom surrounded the whole meeting; but as soon as I commenced praying the scene changed—the light of heaven shone into my soul. How long I was engaged in prayer I know not; but when I opened my eyes and looked round, I saw the two ministers weeping in the pulpit, and the whole congregation seemed overpowered with an awful sense of eternity. From this time the work of the Lord commenced. The two ministers said I had a special call to preach, and the next day insisted on my ascending the pulpit. But oh, how I trembled! my great fear was that I was not called of God to the great work of the ministry; but when I began to speak my fears all left me.” This was his first attempt to preach a sermon, and the result satisfied ministers and people that he was a chosen vessel to bear to a perishing world the glad tidings of salvation. The call of this young man to so important work, distinctly proclaims the sovereignty of God in the dispensations of his grace. As in the case of the primitive preachers of christianity, the learned, the wise, and the noble were passed by, and the unlearned fishermen of Galilee, and those humble birth and attainments, were chosen to be instrumental in founding the infant Church, and extending the glory of the Redeemer’s name. So in regard to the youthful Crandal and his coadjutors in the work of the Lord. Without the aids of scholastic attainments, and without riches or rank, they were chosen by God to do a might—thus proving that “God,” as the sovereign disposer of all, “hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the things that are mighty, and base things of the world and things which are despised hath God chosen; yea and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are, that no flesh should glory in his presence.”

Let it not be supposed however that those heralds of the cross to whom we refer, were satisfied with their intellectual attainments, or despised learning. They applied themselves with much assiduity to the acquisition of sound knowledge, and sought by every means in their power to “approve themselves workmen that needeth not to be ashamed;” and as they advanced in the ministry, it became obvious to all that they were scribes well instructed in the things of the kingdom of God.

3. Notice the success which attended his self-sacrificing labours.

These labours were abundant. Having completed his visit in Liverpool he returned to Chester. Some of his old associates were surprised to hear that he had commenced preaching, but as the Minister of the Church was absent the deacons invited him to preach. He complied with the request, gainsayers were confounded, and the christian people bade him God speed. From Chester he travelled 30 miles through a dense wilderness to Windsor, and held meetings in Windsor, Newport, Falmouth, Horton and Cornwallis. In all these places he had seals to his ministry. In the summer following he visited Onslow and Amherst, and in these places God made him instrumental in the conversion of souls. He spent the following winter in Sackville, and in the district of the Petitcodiac, preaching the word with power. Saints rejoiced, and sinners were converted to God. In the spring he revisited Cornwallis, spent a few months labouring successfully with Elder Manning, and then returned to Salisbury. Here he became united in marriage to the eldest daughter of Mr. Young Sherman. As there was no Church to provide for his temporal support, and having married a wife, he naturally felt that it was his duty to provide for her. The result was that he procured a tract of land in the wilderness, and engaged in manual labour. This subjected him to severe mental conflicts. In speaking of his trials at that time in the letter referred to, he says, “I thought there was a probability I had deceived myself, and if so, I had deceived others. Under these overwhelming I came to the conclusion that I would preach no more. I went out to work on a new farm, and determined I would be like other people. I used to meet with the people on the Lord’s day, and when urged to open the meeting I could not deny. I continued in this way about eighteen months; but one Sabbath morning as I entered the meeting in a place called Pollet River, about three miles from my house, the cloud of darkness that had so long rested in my mind disappeared, and the Lord so blessed my speaking that a number of people cried aloud for mercy, and the meeting continued a number of days. O it was wonderful to see groups of people at the hour of midnight returning home from the meeting with torch lights, making the wilderness echo with the praises of God. Surely these were happy days. This work spread in all the regions round. The doctrines preached were man’s total depravity by the fall of Adam, salvation wholly and alone through the Lord Jesus Christ, regeneration by the Holy Spirit, and sanctification progressive, producing obedience to the Lord’s commands. Many believers followed Christ in baptism.”

The Lord so blessed the ministry of Mr. Crandal at this time, that the friends called him to ordination, and a Council was convened, composed of Elders Edward Manning, Theodore H. Harding, Joseph Dimock, and others. A Church was formed, and Mr. Crandal was ordained its Pastor. Mr. Harding continued after the ordination for some time, aiding his youthful brother in the work of the Lord.

He travelled extensively in this revival, visiting Salisbury, Moncton, Coverdale, Hillsborough and Sackville, and proceeded on to Parsborough and Cornwallis, preaching the gospel frequently in log houses—thus verifying the Saviour’s utterance, the poor have the gospel preached to them. Multitudes gladly received the word, and were baptized.

About this time he was filled with an anxious desire to visit the people on the River Saint John. It was the dead of winter, and how to go he could not tell; but he could find no rest. Finally, in company with a young man going in that direction, he girded on his snow-shoes, and hastened forward with God’s message. This was in the last of January, 1800. Not being accustomed to this mode of journeying, he endured much fatigue; but he travelled on, preaching on all the village the Lord Jesus. He visited Norton and Bellisle, and in the latter place many were brought to know the truth. Among the number was Mr. Drake, afterwards Deacon Drake of this church—a man of precious memory. From Bellisle he passed on to Canning, where he made the acquaintance of the late Elijah Estabrooks, a devoted man of God, and a successful preacher of the gospel. In this district he saw the work of God revive. Thence he passed up the river, preaching in different places. On his way he met a Mr. Cole from Kingsclear, who was in pursuit of him to engage him to preach a funeral sermon. He preached—the word was attended with the Spirit’s power, and many were converted to God.

Mr. Crandal in his letters makes special reference to this visit, and says—“A pious sister asked for baptism, and I answered that she would be immersed at 10 o’clock, A.M. the next day. Accordingly, before the hour arrived, people came from all directions for many miles around, and the ice having been opened, the candidate related a clear Christian experience, and I baptized her. When we came out of the water, two more told what God had done for their souls, and we could not leave the water until fourteen happy converts had been immersed in conformity to the Saviour’s example. Surely this was the Lord’s work. Four or five hundred people were present, and it was a great day of God’s power. The work of the Lord spread in every direction.”

He remained on the river for some time above Fredericton, preaching the gospel and immersing believers as far up as Woodstock.

On his return he called again at Canning, and was immediately met by crowds of people, many of whom had been searching the Bible on the subject of baptism during his absence, and had come to the conclusion that it was their duty to be baptized. In the room where they were assembled, the Lord made himself manifest in great power. Many of these people had been united in a Congregational Church, but they now saw it to be their duty to be baptized. Their leader, Mr. Estabrooks, led the way, and the aged, middle aged, and young, declared what the Lord had done for their souls, and were immersed by Mr. Crandal in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. There was a mighty outpouring of the Spirit upon the people. Mr. Crandal notes it in the following style—“At the second conference many related their experience. An aged man arose from his seat; it was Esquire Esty, and old New England Congregationalist, rooted and grounded in the old Puritan practice of infant sprinkling. He was a man much beloved. He said to me, ‘I see you are going to break up our church.’ I said to him, ‘Sir, if your church is built on Christ, the gates of hell cannot prevail against.’ He replied, ‘Do you not call us a Church of Christ?’ I said, ‘I consider you a company of pious Christians, but not walking in the order of the gospel as Christ has commanded.’ He took up his hat and walked out, saying, his parents had given him up to the Lord in infancy, and from that he would not depart. As he was going out, I said, ‘Esquire, I have one word to say to you—the Scribes and Pharisees rejected the counsel of God against themselves, not being baptized.’ The next morning being Lord’s day, we met at the water at nine o’clock, A.M. A great host assembled to see the effects of the new religion, and to my great surprise, the old gentleman who had said he would never depart from his infant sprinkling, was the first to yield obedience to the commands of Christ. Such a day of the Lord’s saving power was rarely witnessed on earth. Nearly thirty candidates were baptized, and the meeting did not break up until the going down of the sun. It was truly solemn and delightful to hear the praises of the Lord sun by great numbers of happy converts in boats returning home from the delightful scene. The work of that day I can never forget. The clear setting sun, the large expanse of unruffled water, the serenity of the atmosphere, the delightful notes of the feathered songsters, and the solemn sound of hymns sung by many happy voices, presented to me an emblem of the paradise of God. It seemed as though heaven had come down to earth, and that I was on the brink of the eternal world.”

The next day he crossed the river and baptized a number more, and then proceeded on his way, preaching the gospel and baptizing believers, as the Saviour had commanded. At Long Island his preaching was much blessed, and many were baptized. On his return he visited this city, and was joyfully received by the Christians of that day.

Time would fail us to detail further the labours and successes of our departed friend. Suffice it to say, that during these early years of his ministry, notwithstanding the newness of the country, and the badness of the roads, and many other inconveniencies, he was impelled forward in his evangelical labours by the holy impulses of love Divine. Frequently he went forth weeping, bearing precious seed, but he returned again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. In all these lower Provinces the fruits of his evangelical ministry are abundant. Hundreds, we doubt not, were at heaven’s gates to greet him, on his entrance into that bright world, as the honoured instrument in God’s hand of leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and many more will follow after. His name and his memory is embalmed in the best affections of thousands now living, who have listened with joy and delight to the message of mercy from his lips. In this city his labours have been much blessed, and by many highly prized. Some of you now think of him as your spiritual guide in the path to heaven.

Does he not still live in the success of his ministry? That success testifies to his devotedness to his Master’s work, and to his reliance, not upon human wisdom, but upon the prowess of an arm Divine. No man believed more firmly than Joseph Crandal that the salvation of the sinner was not by might or by power but the Spirit of the Almighty. This sentiment inwrought deeply in his own individual experience made him a man of earnest prayer, and brought him into close and intimate converse with the Deity. Like Jacob he wrestled with God, and like him he received the blessing. The enlarged success of such a ministry, imbued with such a spirit, speaks most loudly to all ministers and churches, calling upon them to bestir themselves to the exercise of faith and prayer and labor in the Master’s work.

His doctrinal views were of the Calvinistic type; hence in his ministry he gave much prominence to the doctrine of the universal depravity of man through the first transgression—God’s choice of his people in Christ before the world was—the co-equality of the Lord Jesus, and of the Holy Spirit with the Eternal Father—the vicarious and perfect sacrifice presented on the Cross by Jesus, the sinner’s substitute, in accordance with the conditions of the immutable covenant of grace—regeneration by the sovereign grace of God—justification by the imputed righteousness of Christ—sanctification progressive under the guidance of the eternal spirit, and producing holiness of heart and life—the certain perseverance of all the saint of God to eternal glory—the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. He, however, held these sentiments as being in perfect harmony with the full and free proclamation of the gospel to every creature, and with the obligations resting upon all who hear the gospel, to repent of their sins and embrace its rich and ample provisions. Firmly did he advocate the right of private judgment, calling upon all to examine for themselves the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, as constituting the only rule of faith and practice, and as the book that will judge us at the last day. In the advocacy of these sentiments, both in public and in private, he was bold, zealous and persevering; but he at the same tie cherished towards the pious of every name who differed from him, christian love and good will.