Overview

There was no better-prepared place to inaugurate the first battle of the War for Independence than the little village of Lexington. For Pastor Clark discussed from the pulpit the great questions at issue, and that powerful voice thundered forth the principles of personal, civil, and religious liberty, and the right of resistance, in tones as earnest and effective as it had the doctrines of salvation by the cross. (J. T. Headley) It was to the congregation, educated by such a man, that Providence allowed to be entrusted the momentous events ofApril 19, events which were to decide the fate of a continent that of civil liberty the world over.

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9780979673634

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As a history lover, I was drawn to <em>The Battle of Lexington: A Sermon and Eyewitness Narrative</em> by Jonas Clark. Originally titled, <em>The Fate of Blood-Thirsty Oppressors and God s Tender Care of His Distressed People</em>, this book includes a sermon given by Clark on the one year anniversary of the Battle of Lexington, in which was fired the shot heard round the world. Also included is Clark s eyewitness narrative of the battle where America s War for Independence began. A thought-provoking Introduction is provided by Reverend Christopher Hoops, and the eyewitness account is followed by five pages of Endnotes, and an Appendix featuring four poems: Paul Revere s Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Lexington by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Lexington by John Greenleaf Whittier, and Concord Hymn ( shot heard round the world ) by Ralph Waldo Emerson. I memorized Paul Revere s Ride in high school, and it s one of my all-time favorite narrative poems. I ve used it for a public speaking class and in a writing workshop with our third graders who were studying the American Revolution. While I enjoyed this book for its celebration of an important part of America s history, I was surprised to find in Clark s sermon, lessons that could be applied to our modern world. His discussion on how God cares for His people and seeks justice for those who are oppressed would make for a good sermon today. If you like historical accounts or want to teach your teen reader about the start of the American Revolution, <em>The Battle of Lexington</em> by Jonas Clark would be an excellent book to read. <strong>Cheryl C. Malandrinos</strong>

Author Information

Jonas Clark was born on Christmas day, marking his life in obedience to Jesus Christ. He had six sons and six daughters, all but four living at the time of his death. Four of the daughters married clergymen. Rev. Clark graduated from Cambridge in 1752 and was ordained in Lexington three years later. In addition to being a fulltime clergyman, he was an industrious, hard-working farmer. He cultivated sixty acres of land, which he still owned at the end of his life.As the pastor of the church at Lexington, he typically gave four sermons a week, written out and orally presented nearly 2200 sermons in his lifetime. His preaching was vigorous in style, animated in manner, instructive in matter, and delivered with uncommon energy and zeal, with an agreeable and powerful voice. His sermons were rarely less than an hour, often more, and in theological opinions he was considered amongst the Trinitarians and Calvinists. The spirit and temper of his life were just what the Gospel was designed to produce. He was a Christian in the highest and best sense of the term, shown to be such by a long and exemplary life and a faithful practice of the virtues he had preached to others. He was considered a patriot of the most ardent and decided character. In addition to all this, he witnessed the first outbreak of the War for Independence at Lexington.

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