Part 112

But that which affords you the greatest occasion to denominate me a censorious, uncharitable, and slanderous man, and which I apprehend chiefly stirs up your resentment against me is, to make use of your own expression, page 9. “My reproachful reflections upon the Society which is immediately under our care.” I think the reflections are these: “And as far as I could gather from some who well knew the state of it, [the College] not far superior to our Universities in piety and true godliness. Tutors neglect to pray with, and examine the hearts of the pupils; discipline is at too low an ebb; bad books are become fashionable among them; _Tillotson_ and _Clarke_ are read, instead of _Shepard_, _Stoddard_, and such like evangelical writers.” And, Gentlemen, were not these things so at the time when I wrote? Wherein then, in writing thus, have I slandered _Harvard College_? But then you say, page 10, he goes further still, when he says, page 96, both of _Yale College_, as well as ours: “As for the Universities, I believe it may be said, Their light is now become darkness, darkness that may be felt.” And must it not be so, when tutors neglect to pray with, and examine the hearts of the pupils, &c. And this is all I meant. For I had no idea of representing the Colleges in such a deplorable state of immorality and irreligion, as you, Gentlemen, in your testimony, seem to object. I meant no more, than what the Reverend President meant, when speaking of the degeneracy of the times, in his sermon at the annual convention of ministers, _May 28, 1741_, he adds, “But, alas! how is the gold become dim, and the most fine gold changed! We have lost our first love: and though religion is still in fashion with us, yet it is evident, that the power of it is greatly decayed.” However, I am sorry, I published my private informations, though from credible persons, concerning the colleges, to the world: and assure you, that I should be glad to find, the Reverend President was not mistaken when he undertook, from his own examination of things, seven months after, to “assure that venerable audience on the day of the convention, that their society hath not deserved the aspersions which have of late been made upon it, either as to the principles there prevalent, or the books there read:” and assure you further, that what he adds is true in respect of me, “That such as have given out a disadvantageous report of us, have done it in a godly jealousy for the churches of CHRIST, which are supplied from us.” I would bless GOD, and at the same time, I would ask pardon for the mistake, if I was mistaken therein; for I unfeignedly wish your prosperity, and therefore was as willing to publish the reformation in the College, as ever I was to speak of its declension. From thence may there always proceed those streams, which may make glad the city of our GOD!