Part 118

This is and shall be my endeavour, and was so when I was here last, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, notwithstanding some of my expressions have been made to speak things, and convey ideas which I never intended. And therefore, Gentlemen, judge ye, whether you have said right in page 11th, “And now is it possible, that we should not look upon him (Mr. _W._) as the blameable cause of all the quarrels on the account of religion, which the churches are now engaged in: and this not only on account of his own behaviour, but also as the coming of those _hot men_ afterwards (who together with the exhorters that accompanied them, cultivated the same uncharitable dispositions in our churches) was wholly owing to his influence and example?” Is this, Gentlemen, a fair way of arguing? Is it not enough for me to answer for myself, without having the faults of others that came after me, laid to my charge also? Did not the papists as justly, who charged _Luther_ with all the imprudencies of his adherents, and the confusions that attended the reformation? Besides, I do not understand, who you mean by those hot men. Surely you do not include the reverend Mr. _Tennent_. GOD did make me an instrument of sending him to _New-England_. I thank him for it, as I believe several of _Harvard College_, many ministers, and thousands of the common people, in the several parts of _New-England_, will be found to do, through the ages of eternity. As for others, I knew nothing of their coming, neither do I well know who you mean, and consequently can be no more justly charged with their misconduct, than the first founder of _Harvard College_ can be charged with all the bad principles and practices which any of the members of that society have been guilty of, since his decease. That Mr. _Tennent_’s labours and mine were remarkably blessed, the reverend Mr. President himself testified in the fore-mentioned sermon, page 23, wherein are these words: “Indeed those _two pious and valuable men of God_, who have been lately labouring more abundantly among us, have been greatly instrumental in the hands of GOD, to revive this blessed work; and many, no doubt, have been savingly converted from the error of their ways, many more have been convicted, and all have been in some measure roused from their lethargy.” And even in this testimony, you are all pleased to say, page 3, that “by a certain faculty which he hath of raising the passions, he hath been a means of rousing many from their stupidity, and setting them on thinking, whereby some may have been made really better.” And if these things are so; if many have been roused from their stupidity, and made really better; if the blessed work of GOD was revived, and there is no doubt but many have been savingly converted from the error of their ways, many more convicted, and all in some measure roused from their lethargy; is it to be wondered at, that many of the people should be strongly attached to such an instrument, though it should be most evident (as you say, page _ibid._) “that he hath not any superior talent at instructing the mind, or shewing the force and energy of those arguments for a religious life, which are directed to in the everlasting gospel?” For, is it not natural for people to love their spiritual Father? Would not the _Galatians_ have plucked out even their own eyes, and have given them to _Paul_? And is it not the bounden duty of all that love JESUS, to love those who labour in the word and doctrine, and are made greatly instrumental in the hands of GOD to revive his blessed work amongst them? And supposing that they have not any superior talent at instructing the mind, &c. ought they not the more to thank and adore the sovereignty of their heavenly father, who sends by whom he will send, and chuses the weak things of this world to confound the strong, and hides those things from the wise and prudent, which he is pleased to reveal unto babes?