I think I am much obliged to the writer, for what he says concerning me in this respect. But I wish he had not made so free with the character of my honoured friends. He cries out against slander in others, and at the same time, through the whole letter, he is guilty of the most palpable slander himself. He is pretty favourable to the Rev. Mr. _Webb_, and the Rev. Mr. _Cooper_ of _Boston_. He only calls them, page the 7th, “Two great admirers of _Whitefield_ and _Tennent_, flaming zealots for certain _favourite opinions_ and tenets.” And so indeed they are, blessed champions, I know them well, for certain favourite opinions, and tenets of the church of _Scotland_; such as original sin, the imputed righteousness of CHRIST, election, and other glorious gospel truths. But as for Mr. _Tennent_, he seems quite angry with him.
Never was a man more wrongfully represented. This letter-writer says, “He has often heard, that Mr. _Tennent_ had always been remarkable in the _Jerseys_, for his uncharitable and divisive courses.” But does the hearing of this, prove the truth of it. I have the happiness of being personally and very intimately acquainted with Mr. _Tennent_. I scarce know a man of a more catholic spirit. “He is a man of no learning.” His writings prove the contrary. His antagonists abroad dare not say they have found him so. “His great business in his sermons is either to puzzle, or to fright the hearers, but especially the last, which he did by roaring out, and bellowing hell and damnation, devils, and all the dreadful words he could think of.” Indeed, to the honour of the grace of GOD be it spoken, he is a son of thunder, especially in his application, and when he is preaching the law; at such times, under him, people cannot easily sleep: but withal, he is a workman that needs not be ashamed, and is taught of GOD rightly to divide the word of truth. As for puzzling his hearers, I fear that Mr. _A. M._ thinks he did so, because he generally insists much on the _new birth_, _imputed righteousness_, _divine faith_, and the other peculiar doctrines of the gospel. These things are all foolishness to the natural man, and puzzled _Nicodemus_ himself, when discoursed with by our blessed LORD, _John_ iii. 9. “_Nicodemus_ answered and said unto him, how can these things be?” Again, “ministers in general, he calls carnal, unconverted, blind-leaders of the blind, rational, moral, dry, husky preachers, that were leading the people to hell.” I suppose Mr. _Tennent_ said, “That carnal blind preachers who preach morality without due regard to gospel grace and motives; who do not preach justification by faith, and regeneration, they who do not preach CHRIST as all in all, were blind-leaders of the blind, and were leading the people to hell.” But it is absurd to suppose he thought that all ministers in general were such. I know a great body of ministers, of whom he thinks most highly. But, “He exhorted people to leave them, and to go about exhorting one another, and telling their experiences.” This I cannot believe is truly represented; for I have now a letter by me published by Mr. _Tennent_, against persons going about in the character of exhorters; but if they only exhorted christians not to forsake the assembling of themselves together, to provoke one another to love, and good works, and to tell one another what GOD had done for their souls, he did no more than what every gospel minister should do. He says, “He was followed by all sorts of people.” This I think was a proof that he was of a catholic spirit, and not of a divisive uncharitable temper. “As much as _Whitefield_ was.” And I pray GOD he may be followed a thousand times more. “And by many preferred to him.” Very justly. “He was most censorious and uncharitable; every one that was not exactly of his mind he damn’d without mercy.” This is calumny indeed. I know many ministers who do not think as Mr. _Tennent_ does in all respects; whom he notwithstanding highly values. But I suppose the writer was angry with him, because he pronounced all in a state of condemnation that were not born again, and that did not believe in, and lay hold on the imputed righteousness of JESUS CHRIST. His master authorizes him to pronounce such a sentence, “He that believeth not shall be damn’d.”