The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 3

VI. Harvard President Oakes-Longs for Iron-Age to Expire

URIAN OAKFS, or Oaks (c. 1631-1681), colonial poet, Congregational clergyman, and president of Harvard, was born in England. While yet a child he came to New England with his father, in 1634. He was graduated from Harvard in 1649, staying until he received his second degree and became a recognized Greek and Latin scholar. He preached his first sermon in Roxbury and tutored Harvard students from 1650 to 1652. Returning to England in 1653, he served as chaplain and pastor of Tichfield. But he was soon persecuted for his nonconformity and silenced by the Act of Uniformity. In 1662 he was headmaster of a grammar school, and when persecution oi Dissenters abated, formed the Congregational church of Tichfield. PFF3 110.1

In 1671 Oakes was called to the Cambridge, Massachusetts, church in New England. With Increase Mather he was appointed censor of the Massachusetts press. A shining light, lie twice declined the offer of the presidency of Harvard, but served as acting president, and finally was president from 1679 to 1681. He was a notable orator and writer, and he published several books of sermons and wrote the preface to Increase Mather’s Day of Trouble Is Near. PFF3 110.2

President Oakes’ faith was fixed on that “Glorious Day, when your Warfare shall be ended.” ⁵⁸ He urged all “Christian Souldiers” to “love and long for the Glorious Appearance of Christ.” He admonished them to “Look upwards, and Sigh to Heaven,” with the victory and triumph to be brought about “at the Appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ.” ⁵⁹ He was strongly premillennial in his beliefs. PFF3 110.3

Longing for “an End of the warres and blond-sheds” that fill the world, he exclaims-reverting to the symbolism of Daniel 2 -“Oh when will this Iron-Age expire, and that glorious Morn appear.” ⁶⁰ PFF3 110.4