Page the 11th, he falls foul of Mr. _Moorhead_, and speaks almost as freely of him as of Mr. _Tennent_. I cannot say I was very intimate with Mr. _Moorhead_ when at _Boston_: but the letters that have lately come from him, and from others concerning him, bespeak him to be a man of a good spirit, and one whom GOD has blessed with abundant success. And I have great reason to believe that he is a man not over credulous: because I have heard from his friends here, that he did not overmuch favour the work of GOD that was at _Northampton_ in _New-England_ some years ago, and therefore probably, would not readily favour the late work in _Boston_ and other parts, had he not sufficient evidence that it was a work of GOD.
Page 14th, The letter writer takes upon him to assert, “That a pamphlet published in _Scotland_, intitled, _Christ riding in the Chariot of Salvation_, is stuffed with abominable lies.” As a proof of it, he urges, “That the students in _Boston_, got nothing by _Whitefield_ and _Tennent_ but _enthusiasm_, pride, a contempt of their betters, &c.” What they got by me I know not; but I have great reason to believe they got something that was good, under GOD, by Mr. _Tennent_; for Dr. _Colman_, in a letter to me, which was printed in the _Glasgow Weekly History_, No. 1, writes, “At _Cambridge_ the college is entirely changed; the students are full of GOD, will I hope come out blessings in their generation, and I trust are so now to each other. Many of them are now, we think, truly born again, and several of them happy instruments of conversion to their fellows. The voice of prayer and praise fills their chambers; and sincerity, fervency, and joy, with seriousness of heart, sit visibly on their faces. I was told yesterday that not seven of a hundred remain unaffected. I know how the good tidings of this will affect and please you. GOD give you like joy every where in the fruit of your labours.”
And the honourable Secretary _Williard_ about the same time writes to me thus: “But that which forebodes a more lasting advantage, is the new face of things at the college, where the impressions of religion have been, and still are very general, and many in a judgment of charity brought home to CHRIST; and divers gentlemen’s sons, that were sent there only for a more polite education, are now so full of zeal for the cause of CHRIST, and of love to souls, as to devote themselves entirely to the studies of divinity.”
In the same page he would fain tax Mr. _Gilbert Tennent_ with a lie; for it was he wrote the account in the _Weekly History_, No. 1. Says he, “It is said, when Mr. _Gilbert Tennent_ preached at _Marblehead_ and _Charles-Town_, his voice had like to have been drowned with their outcries.” But he mistakes, it is not said so: for I have searched narrowly into the pamphlet and weekly history, and find no mention of an outcry, but only a great shock given at _Marblehead_. It was at _Portsmouth_. Mr. _Gilbert Tennent_ writing to his brother says, “That there were at _Portsmouth_ and _Charles-Town_, in time of sermon, such outcries that his voice had like to have been drowned.” I think Mr. _Tennent_ is the best judge of what he heard with his own ears. Mr. _A. M._’s living near _Charles-Town_, and having never heard a word of this from the minister with whom he frequently conversed, is no proof it was not so. It might have been so, and yet not come into the minister’s mind to tell Mr. _A. M._ of it.
In the same page, he finds fault with the accounts given of some young children “who talked of the things of GOD as if they were people of 70 or 80 years. Alas! how easily are mankind deceived! How fond are they to impose on themselves and others! Some of these I have conversed with:” but did he converse with all, or with these mentioned in the pamphlet? If not, how can he urge this as another lie in the pamphlet? I take Mr. _Abercromby_, who sent the account of the children, and who is a preacher of good character, to be a better judge of the matter than Mr. _A. M._ But this _anonymous_ letter-writer, seems resolved to condemn every thing in the gross. Indeed he speaks favourably of the church of _England_. “I must do justice, says he, to the church of _England_,” page 16. “There are three congregations of that way in _Boston_: they all live in love and peace; their ministers speak against enthusiasm and bigotry every day; not above three or four at most, of some thousands that are of the episcopal persuasion, are taken with this new-light (as they call it); they all, says he, stand fast to the church, and their numbers increase very fast.”