The Life of Jonathan Edwards – Part 5 (pages 69–82)
nance and that none ought to be admitted thereto, who do not make a profcflion of real christianity, and so lin:
net be received in a judgment of charity as true friends to Jesus Christ, or real faints. Mr. Edwards's sentiments were known, in the spring of the year 1744, it gave great offence, and the town was put into a great ferment and before he was heard in his own defence, or it was known by many what his principles were, the general cry was to ha e him This was difmifted, as what alone would satisfy them. evident from the whole tenor of their condud, as they negleded and oppos'd the mod proper means of calmly considering, and so underflanding the matter in dispute, and ||
When
what Mr. Edwards had And from begmning to end oppos'd the measures which had the be(\ tendency to compromise and heal the difficulty ; and with much zeal pursued thofe, which vvere calculated to make a separation certain and fpecdy. Mr.EowARDS thought of preaching on the fubjedl, that they might know what were his sentiments, and what were the grounds of them, (of both which he was sensible the moflof them were quite ignorant) before they took any step But that he for a separation between him and his people. might do nothing to increase the tumult, but on the contrary take all thofe f eps, which he could with a good ccnfperfifted in a refusal to attend to
to say in defence of his principles.
that tended to peace, he first proposed the thing to the church's Oanding committee ; supposing that if he entered on the fubje6l publicklv with their consent, it would prevent the ill consequences which otherwise he fear'd wjuld follow. But the mofl of thtm by no means consent to it Upon which he gave it over but (\renuoufly opposed it. for the present, as what in such circumstances would rather raise a tumult, and blow the hre up to a greater height, than answer the good ends proposed.
cience,
THEY who have a desire more fully to understand this controvcrfy, and know if it is justly rcprefented here,
may do it by
reading what Mr. Edwards wrote on this occasion, in order to explain and vindicate his principles ; together with the Rev. Mr. Williams's answer, and Mr Edwards's reply to him. And if they please they may consult what Dr. M&ther, and Mr. Iftoddard before wrote on this fubjeft.
Mr. Edwards being sensible that his principles were not u derftood, and much misrepresented thro' the country ; and finding that his people were in too much of a heat calmly to attend to the matter in controversy then ; and were in a disposition even to refuse to hear him preach upon ir, proposed to print what he had to say on the point ; as this seemed to be the only way left him to have a fair Accordingly his people consented to put off the till what he (hould write was published. But they manifehed great uneasiness in waiting, before it hearing.
calling a council,
came our of the press.
And when it was published, it was
Mr. Edwards being sensible of this, renewed his proposal to preach upon *t, and at a meeting of the brethren of the church asked their consent " I desire that the brethren in the following terms " would maniteft their consent, that I Ihould declare the * reafcns of my opinion relating to full communion in the read but by very few of them.
Not as an church, in ledlures appointed for that end as putting the power of declaring the whole counsel of God out of my hands ; but for peace fake, and to prevent occasion of strife." But it pass*d in the negative. :
act of authority, or
Mr. Edwards then proposed that it should be left to a few of the neighbouring ministers, whether it was not, all things confider'd, reasonable that he should be heard in this matter from the pulpit, before the affair should be brought to an iflue. But this also pass'd m the negative.
However, he having had the advice of the ministers and mcffenters of tiic neij hbouring churches, who met at Northampton 10 advise them under their difficulties, proceeded to appoint a irc turc, in order to preach on the fubjedl, propofujg to do so weekly 'till he had tinilhed what he hadto say. On.Vlonday there was a precin(f\ or society meeting, in which a vote was pass'd to choose a committee to go to Mr. Eowards, and dciirc him not to preach lectures on the fubie<5l in controvcffy,accor()ing to his declaration and appoinimcnt. And accordi igly, proceeded to choose a comn Mtec ot tl;r.'c men for Vm% purpose, who wailed on him*,
and did their errand. However, Mr. Edwards thought proper to proceed according to his proposal, and accordingly preached a number of Sermons till he had linifhed
what
Mn JonathanEdwards.
These le<5>ures were very but great numbers of by his own people strangers from the neighbouring towns attended them, so many as to make above half the congregation. This was in
what hehadtofay onthefubjeft.
thinly attended
February and March 1750.
The calling a dccifive council to determine the matter of difference between pastor and people, or rather to dismiss the pastor from his church and people, (ior the delay of which a great deal of impatience had been publickly manifested) was now mere particularly attended to by Mr. EuwARDs and the church. Mr.Eo WARDS had before this infixed upon it from time to time, that they were by no means ripe for such a pro-
ceedure; fas they had not yet given him a fair hearing in defence of his cause : which if they would do, perhaps the need of such a council would be luperfceeded. And beiides, he thought there was abundant publick evidence, that they were not yet in a temper suited to attend on, and be adive in such a tranfa(5tion, as th« difiblving the relawhich would, as tion between them and their pastor ; He observed, things then flood, probably be the event. *' That it was exceeding unbecoming churches of the
" Lamb of God to manage their religious affairs of greatefl: importance in a ferment and tumult, which ought to be managed with great solemnity, deep humiliation, and *' fubmiflion to the awful frowns of heaven, humble de" pendence on God, and with fervent prayer and fupplica" tion to him. That therefore for them to go about such *' an affair, in such a manner as they did, would be mod " unbecoming the Gospel, greatly to the dilhonor of God *' and religion, and a way in which a people cannot expe<5t *' a blessing. That such a great affair as this should be ** gone about with calm consideration but that such a ; *' temper as the people were then in, was wholly incon** fiftent with this." *' *'
But having used all means which he could think of within his Power to bring them to a more calm and charitable temper, and to hear and weigh what he had to say in his own defence, with attention and candor ; and findin» that nothing prevailed 3 but rather the tumult and uproar roar was increased ;
he confentcd that a decisive council should be called without any turther delay.
But a difficulty attended the choiceof a council, which uas tor Tome time insuperable.
It was agreed that the council (hould be mutually chosen, one half by the oaftor, and the other halt by the church but the people insisted \jpon it thnt he (hould be confined to the county in his choice. Mr. Edwards thought this an unreasonable re:
ftraint on him, as it was known that the ministers and churches in that county werealmoft universally agajnft Iiim in the controversy that divided him and his people, and made the two parties. He indeed did not suppose that the bulineis of the proposed council would be to determine whether his opinion which was the occasion of the difficulty between him and his people was right or no ; or that what they were to judge of, depended upon this. But their business would be to see and determine whether any possible way could be devised for an accommodarion between paflor and people, and to use their wisdom and endeavour in order to this. And if they found this impracticable, they must determine, whether things were
now ripe for a separation
whether what ought in jufticc
to be previous to a separation had already actually been done, so that there was nothing further in justice to be de-
manded b either of the parties concerned, before a separation Ihould tske place. And if he was difrpiffed by it would be their business to set forth to the world what manner and for what cause he was difmifted how far he was innoctnr, and whether he might yet be employeil in the v-ork of the m-niliry Sec. All which were matters of great importance to him, and required upright
them, in
And conlidering the great influence a difference in religious opinions has to prejudice men
and impartial judges.
one sgainf am iher ; and the clofc connection of the which moll of the mini(\er$ and churches in the coLnty differ'd hem him, with the matter to be judged of, he did not think they could be reasonably looked u;'nn so impartial judges, as that the matter ought to be v holly Itii to them. Besides, he thought the cafe being so ncA' .Tnd extraordinary, required the ablcrt judges Tor thefc, and feme other reasons, which n lis land. " - Vr d, h 'ii' cd upon liberty to go out of the county point, in
Jonathan Edwards.
for thofe members of the proposed council, in which he was to have a choice. In this, as was jufl now i"aid, the
Ti.oy at people (Irenuoufly and obftinatcly opposed him. length agreed to leave the matter to a council consisting of the ninirters and meflengers of the five neighbouring churwho, after they had met twice upon ir, and had the ches :
cafe largely debated belore them, were equally divided, and
therefore left the matter undetermined. However, they were all agreed, that Mr. Edwards ought to have liberty to go out of the county for some of
And at the next church meeting, which was the council. on the 26ih of March, Mr. Edwards offtrm to join with them in calling a council, if they would consent that he Ihould chufe two of the churches out of the county, in cafe the council consisted of but ten churches. The church however refused to comply with this at one meeting after another repeatedly ; and proceeded to warn a church meeting and choose a moderator, in order to ad without their pastor.
But, to pass by many particulars, at lenth at a meeting of the church, warned by their pastor, Ahy 3d. they voted their consent to his proposal of going out of the county And then for two of the churches, (hould be applied to. they proceeded to make choice of the ten ministers & churAccordingly, ches, of which the council should coniift. the churches were fentto, and the council convened on the jQth ot June. Who, after they had made some fruitless attempts for a .composition between the pastor and church, pass'd a resolve, by the majority of one voice -f only, to the *' That 'tis expedient that the paftofollowing purpose : relation between Mr. Edwards and his church be immediately diflolved, if the people ftiil perfiftin dehringit." And it being publickly put to the people, whether they still insisted on Adr. Edwards's difmiflion from the p ftoral office over them ? A great majority (above two hundred against twenty) zealoufty voted tor his difmifiion. And he was accordingly difniifted June 22, 1750.
The \ One of the churches which Mr. EJivarJ's chose
did not lee
to join the council. However, the miniller of that church being at Northampton at the fitting of the Cciincil, v as desired by Mr. Ea-vjards and the Chorch to fit in Council and aft, which he did. But ther- being no meilenger froia the Church, the council was not full, and there was a difpaxiry i
by vj hich means doobtlefs, there was O.t: vote iiiiniediaie difmiltion, than
against ic.
icr an
T hs
Lite of the Reverend
The (liflenting part of the council, cntcr*d their profcl againrt this proceeding, judging that it was too much in a hurrv, as they were by no means ripe for a reparation, coniidering the past condu<i;t, and prelcnt temper of the peoAnd some of that part of the council that were active, ple.
exprcHcd ihemfelves furprized at the uncommon zeal and eng gcdnefs of spirit, publickly manifeikd by the people in iheir voting for a difmiirion j which evidenced to them,
and all observing fpe tators, that they were far from a temper of mind becoming such a solemn and awful tranfa<5\ion, considered in all
its circumstances.
Being thus difmifled, he preached his farewell Sermon on the tirft of July, from 2 Cor. i. 14. The do(51rire he observed from the words was this, ** Miniflers and the " people that have been under their care, must meet one *' anoiher before Christ's tribunal, at the day of Judgment." Jt was a remarkably solemn and affcding discourse, and was published at the desire of feme of the hearers.
After Mr. Edwards was difmifted from Northampton he preached there some times occasionally wfien. they had no ether preacher to supply the pulpit ; till at length a great uneafmefs was manitefted by many of the people, at Upon which, the committee his preaching there at all. for supplying the pulpit, call'd the town together, to know when they voted their minds with refpe6t to that matter :
was not agreeable to their minds, that he (hould Accordingly, when Mr. Edwards preach among them. was in town, and they had no other mimfter to preach to them, they carried on publick worlbip among thcmfelves, and without any preaching, rather than to invite Mr. Edthat
wards Evfrv one must be fcnfiblc that this was a great trial to Mr. Edwards.
He h d been near twenty four years among
that people ; and liis labours had been, to all appearance, from time to time greatly blefled among them and a great :
number looked on him
as their spiritual father,
who had
been the happy inHrumcnt of turning them from dirkncfs »o light, and plucking them as brands out of the burning. And tlicy had from time to time profcltod that they looked upon it as cue of their rcaicrt priviledgcs to have such a miniiUrt
Mr, Jonathan
minister, and manifested their great love and esteem of him, to such a degree ; that, fas St. Paul says of ihe Galatians) if
had been poftible, they would have
pluck'd
own eyes, and given them to him. And they He had borne them on had a great interest in /V heart his heart and carried them in his bosom for many years ;
out their
exercising a tender concern and love for them
for their
good he was always writing, contriving, labouring; for them he had poured out ten thousand fervent prayers ; in their good he had rejoyced as one that findeth great spoil ; and they were dear to him above any other people under heaven.
Now to have this people turn aga'tiil him, and thrufthim out from among them,
great tumult and heat,
with haste, and a great degree of violence ; like the Jews of old ftoping their ears and runing upon h\tn with furious zeal, not allowing him to defend himself by giving him a fair hearing ; and even refusing so much as to hear him preach ; many of them furmifmg and publickly fpeakto have ing many ill things as to his ends and designs !
the tables turned so suddenly and the voice so general and This surely must come very near to loud against him. him, and try his spirit. The words of the psalmist seems applicable to this cafe, " It was not an enemy that reproach-
ed me, then I could have borne it ; neither was it hs that hated me, that did magnify himself against me, then ** I would have hid my self from him. But it was thou «* my guide and mine acquaintance. rook, sweet coun*« fel together, and walked unto the house of God in com-
pany.
Let us therefore now behold the man J
The calm and sedateness of his mind ; his meekness and humility in great and violent opposition, and injurious his resolution and steady conduc thro* all this treatment dark and terrible storm, were truly wonderful, and cannot be set in so beautiful and affecling a light by any description, as they appeared in to his friends, who were eye;
witncHes.
Mr. Edwards had a numerous and chargeable family, and little or no income, exclusive of his salary and conthe general fidering how far he was advanced in years :
difp fition
T he
Life of the Reverend
disposition of people who want a minifler to prefer a yov ;
man who has never been settled, difmiltcd
from
were made of
his people
to one who has becu and what niifreprefentations
principles thro* the country, it looked probable that he should ever have opportuciry to be settled again in the work of the minilUy, if he was difmifled from t crthatnpton : And he was not inclined or able to take any other course, or go into any othcV business to get a living. So that btggery as well as disgrace stared him full in the face, if he perfiocd his in principles. To be sure, he viewed h mfelf as tak n.: the most dire(5l way to these, according to the natural course of things, by difcoverins and adhering to his principles, in the situation he then was. Kor he foi saw all this, before it came upon him j and therefore had the opportunity and the temptation to dcape it, by concealing his principles. When he was fixed in his princples, and betore they were publickly known, he told fomc ot his friends, that if he discovered and pcrfifted in them, it would most likely iftue in his difmiflion and disgrace ; and the ruin of himself and family, as to their temporal interests. He therefore first sat down and counted the cost, and deliberately took up the cross, when it was set beiore him in its full weight and magnitude} and in direct oppofnion to all worldly views and motives. And thess fore his conclude in these circumlUnces, was a remarkable cxercile and discovery of his conscientiousness ; lo him not at
and his readiness to deny himself, and forsake all that lie had, to follow Chnft.
A man must have a considerable degree of the spirit of a martyr, not to flinch in such a cafe as tins ; but go on with the rtedfaftncfs & relolution with which he did. He, as il were, put his life in his hand, and ventur'd on where truth and duty appcar'd to lead him, unmov'd at the ihreaini/ig dangers on every side. However, God did not foifakc him. As he gave him thnjr mward supports by whuh he was able in patience to pultefs his soul, and calmly and couragioully row on in the i>orm, as it wcrr, in the hct o\ boifirous winds, beating hard upon him, and in ihe midi ot gaping waves tlL'-catnin to Iwallo'.s l.iin ui>
so he soon appear'd for him,
Jonathan Edward?.
providence, even beyond all his expe6Vations. H Correfpondedts and other rrundsin Scotland, hearing or l.is dilmiliion, and fearing it might be the means of bringing him inro worldly straits, generoully contributed a handl'omc fum, and sent it over to hinrl, ijjl ls
Arfd God did not leave him without tender, valuable For a small number of his peopld who oppos'd his difmifti m from the begmning,* and some who aii ed on neither side, who joined with htm after his difinilfion, and adhered to him, under the mfluenceof that great elteem and love of ivif. Edwards, were wjlling and thought themselves able to mamtain him and infided upon it that it was his duty to stay among them, as a diHind and separate congregation fiom the body of th« town, who had rejedled him, friends at Northa?npton.
Edwards could not see it to be his
among them, as circumstances were
this
duty to (lay would pro-
bably be a means of perpetuating an unhappy division in the town and there v as to him no profptd of doing the good there, which would counterbalance the evil, Howcvrt'-, that he might do all he could to satisfy his tender aind aiHi(fltd friends j and because in the multitude of counsellors there is safety, he consented to ask the advice ot an ecclesiastical council. Accordingly, a council was called, and convened at Northampton on the 15th of Alay 1751. ;
The town on this cccafion wus put into great tumult artd
fire.
They who were adfive in Mr. Edwards's dis-.
mi01cni fuppofcd, tho' w.thour any e;ro' nd, and con' ary to tru h, that le was contruii.g and atif mptiug with his friends, a nn to intr' uuce himself at A ar ;/?/!/ ; . They
drew up a rcmonitrance aganl their pi oceeduigs, and laid jt before the council (tho' they would, not acknowledge them to be an cceieii-jft ca:) conraining many heavy* tho* grouadfels, insinuation* an'-* charges against Mi. Edwards, and bitt cr accusation»of the party whf> had a ;her«d 10 him; Bur rt used r» ;jppe-r and fu port ny of lUur charge , of so mu h a» to giv e the gentleine.. ot the counwi' ny opport unity to c r.rer ,th them, about the affair dc cn ing ; tho' it was diligently sought. F Till
The L \TE of the Reverend
The counci; having heard what Mr. Edwards, and they who adhi-r'cl to him, and any oihei vh\o dcfircd to be heard, had to say, advised, agreabie to Mr. Edwards's judgment and cxpec" tation, that he fhoiild Icaye Norihamp' ion
and acc t or
the Miftion to which he was invited at
tccllYiiigt\ ot which a iiiore particular account will be given
prefciitly.
Many other fa(5\s relative to this fonowful, strange.furprizing affair (the most so do-ibtlef-i of any of the kind, that ever happened in New- England ; and perhaps, in any part o\ the chriltian world) injght be related ; bur as this nu>re general hiOory of it, rnay be iufficient to answer the tiids propofcd, viz.
to reolify
some
gross mifreprelentati-
ons that have been made ot the matter, and dilcover the ;:reat trial Mr. 1:.dward3 had herein, 'tis lho»'ght Heft to As a proper dole to this melan-* .L-p-ass other particulars. riiuly ilory ; and to confirm, and further i!!uftrate v hat has J e'?n
related, the following letter troin
Joseph Hawlev,
Elqi (a gentleman who was well acquainted v ith, and very the iraufuclions or this whole affair, and very s ih a head and leader in itj to the rev. Mr. Hall of Bofioriy AJ ;>//:/;, pubiifhcd in a weekly News-l aper ijiivc
Northampton.,
T Have often wilhed that every Member of tbe two ils
(titat
formerly
sat in
ecciefia'Jicrl
Norihampton upon the unhnppy
.nces betv\ceiiouf former most worth \ and reverend pafior whereof you was a '<nn Eti tarJs and tbe church here;
have often wish'd every of them truly knew that the one and of said ccuncils are privy to ; and as I have I. ng appreI
say Sir,
of niv
own cocfiufl in the alVairs
hes.Jtu i: to be my duty not only to bunib'c
before God
conduft before said courc'if, l)at iilfo to CO fcfs my faulcs :o them, and take shame I have often rtudicci with m to my fcif therefor before them tor what was irchril ian and finlul. in
fvlf
A hit mioncr it wa» prafticab! for me to do it
andVhca
Eaton were to be iC.nU ' prig AC the turns of their late council, I rcfo vcd to improve the opportunity fully tJ open my m nd there to you and him thereon; and thougi t tha' pr' bah y fomc method m'ght be then thr Light of io hlch my rcilc-'aoni on my fclf touching the matters above hIr-.-d I uHvlcrilood
that you Sir, and
Mr, Jonathan Edwards. at.
to mol if not all the gentlemen abut yoL ki ow, Sir,
communicated
iTi'gVt be
roreLiid.
who &.<i not refids in th-s county
how cliScult it was for us to converse together by our (elves vhen I J -.ereumbrage :a chat peop e you upon the matters which 'I had rhen v-hich yru Str, figopporruniry only mol summarily to f>.ggc'.t what 1 theic ore now ur;derak'. nisi'.d would be agrea le lo you t >e,d'vinc aid ; and that J then prcpoled, in which I huinbiy ask my sin and f may be made moll treely willirg fully .'to cnfeis realoii I hav [,uilt to you and the world in thofe inrtances whic\ and nototo suppose fell under your notice, as they were publick you Sir, rious tranfaaions, and on account whereof, therefore, and all others who had knowledge thereof, had just cause to be
fore prapofed writing to
offended at me.
And in the firfl place Sir, I apprehen-1 that with the'tliurch and People of Northampton, I nrned and erred exceedingly in confenrirrg and labouring that there fbould be so early a dji 'lTion of Mr Eaivards from his palloral reUcion to U?, even upon the (upnot policion that he vvas really in a mHUke in the difpuied toint only bccaufe the dispute was ispcn matters so very difpu table in thertlfelves and at the greatest remove from futidamentai. but bccaufeivir Edzva ds so long had approved himself a moil fauhful and painful pallor to said church and also changed his feniiincnts in that p int jvhoily from a lender regard to what appeared to him to bo rruth ; and had made known his sentiments with great moderation and upon great deliberation, againil all worldly motives and from mere fidelity to his great master, and a tender regard to the wh>cli foals of his flock, as we had the hig'ieft reason to judge :
confijerations now seem (O me iufiicient ; and would (if we iiad been of a right spirit) have greatly endeared him CO hi. peop'-e, and made us to the iall degree, re-adant to pircing with him, and dis-
posed us to the exe-cile of the greatefl candour, gentlenofs and moderation ho.v mach of thi revcrfe whereof appear d in us, I need not tell you Sir, who was an eye witness of our tcmpcc and condu(ft And altho'' it docs not become me to pronounce declfively on a point so disputable as svhat was then in dispute ; yet I btg leave :
to fiy,
that
really
appr-hend that
of the
highslt rno-
ment to the bodv of this church, and tj me in partictjlar, moll so icitoufly to enqi i e, John'-fiaptiirs time
whc:hcr
like the Pharisees
and Lawyer: in
v.e did not rejedl the cnunfel of
God sf?3in{l:
oir feives, in rejeding iVjr. EdiM'jrds »nd hi? dotlrine; which was thegrouidof his d>i;n;irion. And i humbly conce've that it highly mports us all of ihis church, moll feri< uflv and impartially to examine what th.Tc mcft v.crtliy nd abiedivme ah ut rhat tinte pqbliflhed in support of the same, whereby he bdng dead yet f xakfich, tlicre
wsrc three things
e''pec";illy
my own p3r-
conduct before the first council, which have been jullly matter of great grief and much trouble to me almost ever ifince, trc ihr
mil. In ihe fird place I confess Sir, that
a61ed very 'mmodeftly and
my self,
rbuifively to you. as well as iij irioufly to the church arid
v/hen with much zeal and unbecoming aflurance, I moved the council that they would inierpjfe to filenct; and stop you in an nak'ng one mormng to the people, wherein you address you was, if I don't mirremember, briefly exhorting them to a tender remembrance of the former affci ion and harmony that had long fubfj.led between them and their reverend pall r, ar,d the great comfort and profit which they had apfrehen ied that they had
his miniftry for which Sir, 1 heartily ask ycur and I think, that we ought inllead of cppofing an exhortation of that nature, to have received it with all thank-
feceitej from
forgiveness
fulr.ers.
Another particular of my condufl be 'ore that council, which I row apprehend wa? criminal, and was owir.g to the want of that tender affsflion and reverend refpefl and esteem for Mr. Eanjtjarcis which he had highly msrited of me, was my flrcnuoufly opposing the adjournment of the mattes-s fubmitced tj that council, for about two mon:hs;for which 1 declare my self unfeignedly sorry ; and r with rtiame remember, that I did it in a peremptory, decisive, vchcTient ard very immodest manner But Sir, the most crijninal pari of my conduft at that time, -.1 I am conscious or was my exhibdng to that council a set oi arguments in wriiing: the drift whereof was to prove the rcafonablenefs and necefliiy of Mr. Edxvard's difraiirion in cafe no which accommodation was then tftcded with mutual consent tra by clear implication contained some fcvere. uncharitable, and if I don't mifrcmembcr, groundlefj and slanderous imputations on and a!:ho' the Mr. Ecitvarih and exprcii'ed in b trer la guage \ dreft thereof was not done by me, yet I foolishly and confttted to copy it ; and as agent for the church, to i:it It and deliver it to the council, which I could never have which dofie, if f had not had a wicked rchlh for pcrverfe thirgs am perfwaded was Condu" of m'n?, I confess wai very sinful Hghly provoking to God, and for which I am afhamcd, confoundc :. and have n')thing to anfvver. As to the church'* remori'lrance (as it was called) which their comnittcc prefcrr'd to the lall of f.id councils, to all whic hi was Consenting, and in the compoGn whereof I was very active, as I would in the nM) in bringing the church to their vote upon it tha: I don't remember any thing in that si.'rt olace onlv rbfcivc, fmill part of it which w.is pUinly discursive of the cxpedie. cy cl Wr. £./:ti'/'s rc fcrjcmcat here as pallor to a pan of the ;
church.
church, which was very exceptionable ; bat as to a!l the residue, which wa? much the greatetl part thereof (and I am not certain that any paiiwas wholly free) if was every where larded with unchristian bit'ernefs, farcaftical and unxnannerly infinuati rs, ccnta'nec divers diredV grievous and criminal charges and allegaiions agun Mr. E ivards ; which J have since good realon totupplfe ueic all founded on jealous 6c uncfuritahle mistake; and so were really
many heavy and reproschfjl charges upon Mr. Edwards's adherents, and feme severe censures of them all indircrimina.ely ; all of wni-.h (if net wholly faife and groundlefa) yet were altogether unnecessary, and therefore highly indeed I am fupy convinced, that the whole of that criminal, composure, excepting the Imall part thereof abovementioned, was gross flinders, aifo
divers of
totally
unchristian, a Icandalous, abusive, iiijurious libel,
Mr Ednxjards and his part'cular fr ends
agair.ft
efpec ally the fcim:r, and detel able in the sight of God ; for ;
and highly provoking which I am heartily lorry at d ashamed and pray I may remember it with deep abasement and penitence all my days. Nor do I now think that the church's cDnd d in refusing to appear and attend before that council to support he charges and allegations in said remonrtrance aga nft Mr. Edwaids and said brethren, which they demanded, wa ever vindicated by all the subtle answers that were given to said demand nor do I think that our ccnduft in that instance was capable of a defence, for it appears to me, that by making charges of fcandalou matters against them before faidt council, we ncceftarily so far gave that council jurifdidtion; and ;
own with sorrow and regret, that I zealously endeavoured, thai",
church
(hou d perfeverirgly
conr.cil for the purpo'e abovefaid
refuse ;
appear before said'
which I humbly pray
Gcd to
forgive.
Another part of ray condu . 5/>, of which I have Icngrepefited, and f r which
with the church
my hearty foriow, was my laH council's having any conference
hereby declare
obftirate oppofiaon to the
which said council earneflly and repeated]; the church finally denied (as ycu know'
moved for, and which
I think it discovered a greit deal of pride
and, vain flfficitncy
the church, and shewed them to be very cpiniative, efpeciai the chief itickler-, one of whom 1 own J uas, snd think it v;:
running a most presumptuous risk, and a6t:r the part of prCL scorners. for us to refuse hearing and cardialy and fcriouhy coiifidenng what that council cou'd say or pror.ofe to us; among
whom there ' ere divers jallly in great reputation wisdom.
arace
In thcfe instances 5/;. of my conducl.and otber<: (ro which yod was not pr vy) in the course of that n .cfi melarcl oly contention wiih Mr. VJ-j:ards, wherein I new see that I wa; very much inIkcnccd by vast pride, feif fuf ciency, ,'mbilion anc 'vanity. £
appcrvi-
The Lite
appear to my self vile,
of the Reverend
and doubtlcfs
more impartial and do in hor my self, and repent sorely and i arc
much more the
to othcn
review thereof, aS-
my own heart condemni
behovfj me lolemnly to reinember, that God is greater, and knoaetlj all th'ng ; and I hereby own, Sir, that such treatment of VI r Ei'TLc/rc/'s, as is herein before ment'oncd, v.kerein I v-ai (o deeply concerned and ad.ve, was p rticu arly and very a£g;avaed!y sinful pnd ungrateful in me. b cause 1 was no' crly under die coiuiiion obli:afions of esch individual of the f c'.ety to h:m, as to a molt ab c. diligent and faithful paflor but ] had goodncfs, and ger.)so received many inllances of hi; tcnderncfs ne. ' fiv tome, as a yourg kinsman, whom he wa> difpofcd to treat in a moi friendly manner IniJeed. Sir I mull own, that by my condu< in confultirg and acflmg agf'inst Mr EJnjwards withir the time of oui moit unhappy cilp'.'es w;th hi:n, and elperially in and about that abominab'e rcjji'Miitranct* I hnve so far lymboHzcd with B-.laam, Ahitopktl and J daj. that am ccnff>urded and fijled with terror oftentimes wlicn I attend to the iiu il painful fimilitudc Ard 1 freel. confels, that on account of my conduct abovehave the grei'cst reason to tremble at thcfe mod Tomcnitoned. ]emn and a»v'ul wrrds of cur Saviour. Mattb. i8 6. and thcfe in that noand 1 am molt sorely fcnfibl luke 10 h at ihe i6 h tlan b'..i that infin';e grace and mercy wbicli saved f me of thebetjayer> and murderers of our blcITed Lord and the perfecutof' ot h.s marrvrs, can pardon me ; in which alor e 1 hope for th frike of Chrirt, 'xhoff blood ibicftcd be God) for pardo cleanfc;h from all sin Cr 'he whole Sir ] am corvirced.that " Have mercy upcm ] have ihe grcrjtelt rcalon to say as /)<7i.'V, mc. O Gfd. acc< rc'ii g to thy lovng kindness, accoidi;ig to multtude of thy lender mercies blot out mv tr.'tn-'g'eft! e *' sun» waOi R.c ihr. u hj. from mine in-qui'y. and clcanCe me for I acknowltdge my trci fgr- Ificns, and m> sin from my sin hide thy face frrm n y fjr5. r.rd b"it cut is ever before mc cre<:te all m re in quities n me a clean hcarr, O Gcd, ard rtmw a ri ht spirit within mc c .ft mc not away from thy preftnce.and take nf:t t' y holy fpiiit from me, RcHore Onto me tbe joy of fhv ialvajon, and uphold me with thy ii' t spirt." At.d i humbly npprchcnd that it greatly concerns the church r h\rtitiff}}'!an m 'li icric,ufl>' to <.xamir.c whether the m.- ny hatd it
ccchff,
many particular membe-s
fpojccn bj
ngainfl their scr-
feme of which the church rta'.ly courtcnarccd, ai d y\: a>!y thcfe Ipokcn by the church rs a hod), in that most vi!c /cr.Kntlfir.cc. arc not so odious and unocdly, as to be uferly unar>d wretVcr said church frrc not guilty Q r.b!e of defence at fjn in. being so willing £nd disposed for so Cight a caufc, to :;h so fa;;hful an l gocly a rr.iaiUcr as Mr. Edi r.rds was. cr paflor,
A.id