Chapter IV: Preface (2)

He says in the beginning of his letter, page the 3d, “I am sorry you have had such accounts of persons, and things, transmitted you from this country, as you mention in your letter; they are far from being true, and must come from men of narrow minds, and great bigotry, or from such as basely affect popularity, or from well-meaning weak christians, of little knowledge of human nature, or the history of mankind.” What accounts this gentleman refers to I know not. If he means the accounts in the _Weekly History_, as I suppose he does; I think this gentleman is sadly mistaken. Most of the accounts were transmitted by the honourable Mr. _Williard_, secretary of the province. The Rev. Dr. _Colman_, the Rev. Mr. _Cooper_, the Rev. Mr. _Prince_: persons I am intimately acquainted with, and who are by no means “Men of narrow minds, great bigotry, or little knowledge of human nature, or the history of mankind: but have deservedly had a good character for sound understanding, integrity, sobriety of manners and piety:” Some of these were honoured several years ago with degrees, by the university of _Glasgow_, upon recommendation from the Honourable society at _Edinburgh_ for Propagating Christian Knowledge; of which society several of the most intelligent gentlemen in the nation are members: such honours were done to Messrs. _Colman_, _Prince_, and _Cooper_.

Now whether _they_, or this _anonymous writer_, are to be most credited, I leave any reasonable man to judge. Indeed he boldly asserts, “That these accounts are not true:” but what proofs does he bring of the falsity of them? None at all. Let us but know who this writer is, I am persuaded my honoured friends at _Boston_, will soon bring him to the test of these assertions.

He goes on thus “Indeed some persons of very good sense were once inclined to think GOD was doing wonders in this place.” (_Boston_) And I am persuaded these very same persons have not altered their opinion yet, but actually believe that GOD has done wonders; if turning people from darkness to light, and making them new creatures, is doing wonders.

“But that was a time when a superstitious panic ran very high, and bore down every body that was not well fixed and established; either by a natural steadiness of temper, or by strong reasoning and reflections. But as soon as the passions of the people subsided, and men could coolly and calmly consider, almost every one of but tolerable sense and understanding in religious matters, in great measure changed their opinions of the spirit that prevailed here, and had been raised by _Whitefield_ and _Tennent_.”

What had been raised by Mr. _Whitefield_ and _Tennent_? GOD forbid! that either Mr. _Tennent_ or I should ascribe any of that work to ourselves. No, it was raised by the Holy Spirit of GOD. It was no _superstitious panic_, but a plentiful effusion of the Holy Ghost. It’s true, it did run high; glory be to GOD for it! and did bear down every body, except those who would not submit to the Redeemer’s scepter, through self-righteousness and unbelief; which I am afraid this writer terms, natural steadiness of temper, strong reasoning and reflection. Nor is it true that “Almost every one of but tolerable understanding in religious matters, in a great measure have changed their opinions of the spirit that prevailed at that time.” No, dear Sir, they yet believe it to be a glorious work of GOD, as is evident from the late writings of some of these eminent ministers in _New-England_, just mentioned.

What the writer says of me in the following paragraph, page 4th, is not worthy notice. He is welcome to make as free with my character as he pleases, and I freely forgive him. However I thank him for doing me the justice to say, “That I collected money _for the Orphan-house_ in _Georgia_.” It was not then _for myself_; nor does he charge me with embezzelling the 5 or 600 _l._ He could not do this _justly_, because before the writing of this letter, an account came to _Boston_ how I had expended it. And as for being “A bold and importunate beggar,” I acknowledge I learned that from the wise Man, who tells me, “Whatever thou findest in thy hand to do, do it with all thy might;” and from the apostle _Paul_, who in the second epistle to the _Corinthians_, chapter viii. 9. shews himself to be the most bold, insinuating and importunate beggar for pious uses, that I ever yet met with.

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.”

Again, “His sermons were sometimes as confused and senseless as you can imagine.” It is well they were not always so. “He seemed to have a particular quarrel with reason, learning and morality; for he seldom finished a sermon without saying something against them.” Never I believe, but when these things are magnified to the prejudice of divine revelation, illumination, or of CHRIST’s imputed righteousness: for Mr. _Tennent_ is a solid, learned, rational, and not only a moral, but true holy man. The Rev. Doctor _Colman_, in a letter to me published in the first weekly paper printed at _Glasgow_, writes thus of him: “We received him just as we did you, as an angel of CHRIST. He was abundant and fervent in labours, and GOD has been pleased to own his labours with abundant success.” The honourable and truly pious Secretary _Williard_, writes thus: “There has been so evidently the finger of GOD in directing you into this province, and after your departure, the Rev. Mr. _Tennent_, through your earnest and importunate request to him, and in the wonderful success that has attended both his and your ministry, as also the labours of our own ministers for some months past; that many who like not the work, are sadly put to it, to keep their eyes shut against the evidences thereof.”

The Rev. Mr. _Cooper_, in a letter printed in the _Weekly History_, No. 2d, (which the printer has mistaken for _Colman_,) calls him, “Dear Mr. _Tennent_. He came,” says he, “in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel indeed. He was with us several months. Many thousands were awakened, and I believe many truly converted. There is quite another face of religion in this town, as well as in many places in the country. Many ministers as well as people are greatly quickened. Blessed be GOD, who put it into your heart to move him to come, and inclined his heart to come, and help us.” I could bring a cloud of witnesses to testify the falseness of the character given to Mr. _Gilbert Tennent_ by this letter-writer. The account which he gives of himself to me in a letter published in the _Weekly History_, No. __ is admirably sweet: his book, intitled, _The Presumptuous Sinner detected_, and his many printed sermons, and his preface to his deceased brother’s treatise upon the _New Birth_, which is now in the country (and which I would recommend) shew him to be a man of great learning, solidity, and piety. And I am not without some distant hopes, that the people of _Scotland_ will have an opportunity of hearing him ere long, and then they may judge for themselves.

After such a false and scandalous character given of that great man of GOD Mr. _Gilbert Tennent_, I think I may justly suspect the truth of all that this writer says in the subsequent part of the letter. From such a letter-writer as this, what truth can we expect?

The writer himself gives me leave to speak in this manner. For he seems to make the validity of what follows, to depend on the character he gave of me and Mr. _Tennent_, page the 6th, “From such men as these (_Whitefield_ and _Tennent_) and such doctrines and ways of preaching as theirs, what fruit can you expect”? Now all he says about me is, “That I collected in _New-England_ 5 or 600 _l._ sterling for the Orphan-house in _Georgia_: that I was a bold and importunate beggar,” &c. This could have no influence upon the people’s minds, to raise a bad spirit among the people. And as for the character he gives of Mr. _Tennent_, I have proved it to be absolutely false: consequently, whatever he builds upon the foundation of Mr. _Tennent_’s bad character, amounts to nothing at all, since he has not proved the character given of him to be true.

But suppose Mr. _Tennent_ was the man he is represented to be, does it therefore follow that all the great and glorious work carried on in _New-England_, by other ministers, and in other places where Mr. _Tennent_ and I never were, is _enthusiasm_ and _delusion_? By no means; and yet this is the whole drift of the pamphlet.

Surely the writer knows not what spirit he is of. In the 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10th pages, he represents things in a most ridiculous dress, and takes upon him to condemn all the converts, to a man, (though he could not possibly be acquainted with the hundredth part of them,) as “Self-conceited, superstitious, enthusiastic, censorious, slanderous.” At the same time he seems to ridicule the concern which the people were under when they were brought to cry out, “What shall we do to be saved.” He laughs at them for asking one another “How do you feel? have you seen CHRIST?” He boldly asserts, that “the boasted converts, not one in a hundred excepted, make religion consist, in the feeling of inward impulses, impressions, and in an inexplicable faith, joys, extasies, hearing of sermons, and such like.” In short, he by this and the whole drift of his letter, seems to me to be far from deserving the character given of him, in the advertisement affixed to the title-page of the pamphlet.

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.”

One would imagine, by this, Mr. _A. M._ is a church of _England_ man, and it should seem a bigoted one too: and then no wonder he speaks against the new-light. Their ministers I believe do preach against what I fear he terms enthusiasm, “The powerful feeling operations of the Holy Ghost.” But I cannot think they preach so much against bigotry. For in a conference I held with all three of those ministers in _Boston_, the head of them, to prove that we ought all to be of the church of _England_, brought this text, “That they may be all one, even as thou O father and I are one.” They assert _baptismal regeneration_, deny perseverance, and free justification by faith without works, and seem to think of Mr. _Gilbert Tennent_ just as this letter-writer does. No wonder then he is so friendly to them.

But why should I say more? it would be endless, as well as take up too much of my precious time to be more particular in my observations upon Mr. _A. M._’s letter. There are some matters of fact mentioned in it, such as “a blind lad’s preaching in _Connecticut_, page 12. Mr. _D――――_’s manner of preaching in a hot day, page 13,” and some other things, which I cannot take upon me to make replies to, and which, if true, will by no means prove the late work of GOD in _New-England_ to be only enthusiasm and delusion. Ere long I hope to see _Boston_. Then I will endeavour to send an impartial account. Indeed Mr. _A. M._ page 17. seems not to care for my return to _Boston_. But I hope to have a prosperous journey to them in some months, by the will of GOD, and see how they do.

In the mean while, give me leave to observe, that the publishers of this pamphlet (for I believe there are more than one concerned in it) have almost saved me the trouble, and have taken an effectual way to confute themselves. For they have annexed to this letter, an “Appendix, containing proofs for the facts in the foregoing letter, extracted from sermons preached by some of the most eminent ministers in _New-England_, lately printed at _Boston_.” But these extracts by no means contain proofs of all the facts recorded in the foregoing letter, consequently all the facts in the letter which are not proved by these extracts, we have reason to doubt of. I have not an opportunity of getting all the sermons of the reverend ministers mentioned in the title page: but it grieved me, when I saw extracts taken out of their writings to prove, that the work lately begun and carried on in _New-England_ was enthusiasm and delusion. This was the chief reason of my writing you this letter; it will grieve them to hear that their writings have been used to so bad a purpose. The compilers of the pamphlet have dealt with _their sermons_, as the devil dealt with the scripture, when he tempted our LORD in the wilderness; I mean, marred and wholly misapplied them. The publishers stile them, at the head of the appendix, some of the most eminent ministers in _New-England_; and depend much upon their authority, to prove the facts of Mr. _A. M._’s letter. And I desire no other authority than these very eminent ministers sermons, out of which the extracts are taken, to prove that the work lately begun and carried on in _New-England_ is not enthusiasm and delusion, but a great and marvellous work of the Spirit of GOD.

The compilers, indeed, in order to make the world believe they had been impartial, have published a sentence or two, wherein Dr. _Colman_ has written favourably of the Orphan-house in _Georgia_, and says, “the order of it is admirable, &c.” but this is only a disguise. For they have been far from acting fair in this respect. The Doctor complains in the P. S. of that letter, page 44. that “some of my friends have made too free with my letters in printing only part of them, and mixing them with parts of others without distinction.” I think it is my duty to take all the blame from off my friends, upon myself, as to printing only parts of his letters; for I was the only person concerned; but as for mixing them with others, without distinction, I know nothing of it. The letters were sent to me from the Doctor. I thought it would be improper to publish any other parts of the Doctor’s letters than what respected the success of the glorious gospel, and that I thought he would gladly have published: but if the Doctor found fault with my friends; I am sure he justly may blame these compilers who have published only part of this letter of his. One would have thought they should have taken a caution from this very P. S. But they were afraid, as it would seem, of the contents of it; for a friend who has seen and read the whole letter, sends me the following extract out of it. “I hope we are retrenching our superfluity and luxury; our young people have thrown by much of their finery and gaiety, and seem to have eye and heart on things spiritual and heavenly; and if GOD build them up into families, with their present prudent pious dispositions, it promises greatly for the next generation, that glory will dwell in our land, and his work appear to children’s children.” And in that very part of it they have printed, the Doctor says enough to overthrow the whole design of the pamphlet, page 42. “All this notwithstanding, there has been a great and glorious work of GOD going on among us, from the day of Mr. _Whitefield_’s visit to us.” I have a sermon of the Doctor’s now before me, intitled, “_The word of GOD magnified by him_,” preached _April 22, 1742_, “wherein his testimony is humbly given for the great and wondrous work of GOD’s grace manifest in many parts of the land.” The last paragraph of that sermon begins thus, “I close with giving glory to GOD, for the great and good work of his grace which he hath so visibly begun, spread, and is carrying on in every part almost of our provinces.” This very sermon I believe has been in the hands of the compilers of this pamphlet. How then could they be so bare-faced, and so injurious, to the good man’s character, as to print any part of his letter, to subserve so base a design? I believe they will not have the Doctor’s thanks for this.

The like treatment they have given the Rev. Mr. _Turell_, another of the eminent ministers, from whom they have taken extracts to prove the facts of Mr. _A. M._’s letter. I am persuaded Mr. _Turell_ will be much concerned to find any part of his sermon thus misused; and how the compilers of this pamphlet could dare to make this use of his writing, I cannot imagine; for, in the very first page of the preface to that very sermon, out of which they have taken their extracts, he speaks of himself “as one of the friends and zealous promoters of the good work:” nay he begins his preface with these words, “the occasion of my publishing this brief direction to my people, is partly to vindicate my character, which has been injured by a report spread, that of a zealous promoter of the glorious work of GOD’s grace and Spirit appearing, I am become an opposer:” which shews, that Mr. _Turell_ would not care to be represented as an opposer of that work, and consequently would not chuse, that his writings should be produced to prove the principal facts in this letter of _A. M._’s, who would represent the whole as enthusiasm and delusion.

What opinion Mr. _Turell_ had of persons of this gentleman’s spirit, is evident from the fourth page of the same preface, which the compilers of the pamphlet could not but see. His words are these, “As for the profane triumphs of the opposers, (of such I mean) who attribute the whole of this glorious scene to the devil, or wild enthusiasm, a heated imagination, &c. I detest their opinion, though I am far from judging their state. I am confident that of the many that I have discoursed with under the common impressions (two or three excepted) they have been all wrought upon in a way agreeable to the gospel: and just as I should have desired some years ago. And I must testify, to the glory of GOD, and his sovereign rich grace, that I do behold the distinguishing marks of GOD’s spirit on many. My brethren, let us pray for the preservation, revival, progress, and universal spread thereof.” In page 14. of his directions, he says, “I charitably believe, some scores in this place have been seriously wrought upon; and the far greater part of them have declared, GOD has made me the happy instrument of their awakening.” And, page 18, says he, “the names of _Whitefield_ and _Tennent_ (though liable to err) I have once and again mentioned to you with honour; they have been raised by GOD to do abundance of good.” How does this agree with the account Mr. _A. M._ gives of the spirit raised by us, and with that scandalous character he gives of Mr. _Tennent_ in particular; and when these quotations are parts also of one of the treatises, out of which one of the extracts mentioned in the appendix is taken, and are written by one of those eminent ministers whose writings are referred to, to prove the principal facts recorded in Mr. _A. M._’s letter.

But what surprises me most of all is, that they should extract any thing from Mr. _Parsons_ to prove Mr. _A. M._’s matters of fact. Indeed, in the passage cited from him, page 41 of the pamphlet, to use the words in the _Glasgow Weekly History_, No. 35. I see only a warning against rashly concluding persons to be in a converted state; because, some who have been thus well judged of do afterwards fall away into errors, or appear to be deluded, or turn out impostors; and the warning enforced by an instance, and indeed but by one instance, of a person who was a visionary. Mr. _Parsons_’s caution to others against concluding too rashly that people are converted, is a presumption, that he is cautious in that matter himself; yet in this very sermon of Mr. _Parsons_’s, out of which the extracts mentioned in the appendix are taken, he says, page 44, “I hope not less than an hundred and fifty souls are converted in about nine months past:” though his parish is small, consisting only of 120 families. I could heartily wish that the whole sermon was printed; it is directly levelled in many parts of it against persons of Mr. _A. M._’s spirit and sentiments, and is intended as a needful caution for those lately converted, to avoid extremes, and take care to walk consistently. He has all along been a great promoter of this work: in a letter dated _December 16, 1741_, to Dr. _Colman_, and which is printed in the _Weekly History_, he mentions a most wonderful effusion of the Holy Ghost in his congregation. In that letter he makes an honourable mention of Mr. _Tennent_: “I have reason, says he, to bless the LORD that he sent him for our help; and indeed by an enquiry since, I find his labours were blessed to give a more general shock than appeared at the very time.”

The other eminent ministers sermons I have not yet met with: but I have great reason to believe they have been treated in the same manner: the time would fail me, dear Sir, to send you all the vouchers that might be produced for the glorious work in _New-England_. Messrs. _Webb_, _Cooper_ and _Prince_, in a preface to a sermon by Mr. _M‘Gregor_, a presbyterian minister, and which I hope also will be reprinted, speak nobly of it. Mr. _Edwards_’s sermon I think is most admirable, and answers all the objections that Mr. _A. M._ or others can make against it. In short, if any work had all marks of a divine signature, this undoubtedly has.

When I consider how Mr. _A. M._ so quarrels with it, and endeavours to represent it in so ridiculous a light, I cannot but wish he may consider _Romans_ viii. 7. _1 Corinthians_ ii. 14. “The carnal mind is enmity against GOD; and the natural man discerneth not the things of the spirit of GOD, because they are spiritually discerned.” The sum of the matter seems to be this; there has been a great and marvellous work in _New-England_: but, as it should seem, by the imprudences of some, and the overboiling zeal of others, some irregularities have been committed in several places, which Mr. _Tennent_ himself, in a letter to Mr. _Parsons_, printed in the _Boston Gazette_, has borne his testimony against, as strongly as any of these eminent ministers. This, dear Sir, is nothing but what is common. It was so in _Old-England_ some few years ago. Many young persons there, ran out before they were called: others were guilty of great imprudences. I checked them in the strictest manner myself, and found as they grew acquainted with the LORD JESUS, and their own hearts, the intemperance of their zeal abated; and they became truly humble walkers with GOD. After a gathering, there will always be a sifting time: and the church is generally shaken before it is settled. But must the whole work of GOD be condemned as enthusiasm and delusion because of some disorder? No, I wish with all my soul, that those who extracted from Mr. _Parsons_, had observed what he says, page 41, and 42. “It is very much to be feared,” says he, (speaking to persons who cried down the whole work of GOD because of the imprudences and miscarriages of a few) “that you are strangers to the sanctifying influences of the Holy Ghost, when you can so easily pass over the table of the rich dainties which GOD spreads for his own children, which while they feast upon, their souls are drawn out in rivers of pleasure and love; and like the crow, light upon, and greedily pick up, every bit of filthy carrion you can meet with.”

Dear Sir, as I allow you to publish my letter; out of compassion to the compilers and publishers of the pamphlet, I cannot but express my concern, that they may seriously consider, whether this mentioned by Mr. _Parsons_ be not directly their case. And that they may take heed lest the GOD of this world may have blinded their eyes: since they had this and the other sermons before them, they must sin against light and knowledge in publishing such a tract. And therefore, to use the words of Mr. _Parsons_ in his sermon, page 42. “It is not possible that you should be innocent, but on the contrary plunge yourselves under amazing guilt, by such a dreadful conduct. Whilst you stand amazed at the rings of the wheels, as things too high and dreadful for you; whilst you know not what to make of the effusions of the Holy Spirit, but are blundering at every thing amiss; when GOD is working a work of his astonishing grace before your eyes which you will not believe; beware lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets, ‘Behold, ye despisers, and wonder and perish!’ Dear immortal souls, I beseech and persuade you, by the mercies of GOD and the astonishing love of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, that you would not sacrifice the operations of the blessed Spirit to your own prejudice, by means of our imperfections: I beseech and charge you by the coming of the great Jehovah in the word of his grace, that you do not despise his glorious name, and the riches of his mercy, now offered to you. I charge and admonish you by the dignity and worth of your immortal souls; by the powerful impressions of an approaching change; by the certain tremendous appearing of the Great Judge; by the inexpressible agonies of hell, and inconceivable joys of an everlasting heaven, that you do no longer reject, nor once more cavil against the glorious interest and kingdom of the blessed JESUS triumphing at this day, and inviting the miserable slaves of the devil, to become the happy subjects of it. I warn and charge you before the great GOD, and the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and the holy Angels, upon your peril, that you take diligent heed to these things. And if you reject to hear, if you dare reject, or boldly despise the admonition, remember you are answerable at the great tribunal, and must expect a most fearful share of torments among the damned world, for such unspeakable guilt.”

Thus speaks this great and good man: my heart warmed, dear Sir, whilst I was reading his discourse; it is close, succinct and powerful: how could the publishers, after reading such a dreadful warning, print any thing out of his sermon, to prove the work in _New-England_, to be enthusiasm? I would heartily join with him and the other ministers in _New-England_, was I there, in bearing a faithful testimony against any thing that I might judge to be inconsistent with the precious rules of the holy scriptures. At the same time I pray, that even the ministers themselves may act with the same caution they recommend to their people, and then I doubt not but we shall see a happy end put to what may now be irregular or disorderly. The dear Redeemer has assured us, “that the gates of hell shall never prevail against his church.” He will cause that all things shall work together for her good. The wrath of man shall turn to his praise, and the remainder of it shall he restrain; he will bring order out of confusion, and the church shall be more than conqueror through his love. I will therefore conclude this long letter, with the words of the psalmist in the second psalm,

Why rage the heathen? and vain things,
Why do the people mind?
2. Kings of the earth do set themselves,
And Princes are combin’d
To plot against the LORD, and his
Anointed, saying thus,
3. Let us asunder break their bands,
And cast their cords from us.
4. He that in heaven sits, shall laugh:
The LORD shall scorn them all.
5. Then shall he speak to them in wrath,
In rage he vex them shall.
6. Yet notwithstanding I have him
To be my King appointed,
And over Sion, my holy hill,
I have him King anointed.

Upon this assurance, I rest in peace, and am, reverend and dear Sir, in the kingdom and patience of JESUS,

Your affectionate and obliged friend, brother and servant,

_G. W._

By way of P. S. to this letter, give me leave to send you a copy of the preface to Mr. _M‘Gregor_’s sermon, to which I have referred in my letter, and which is signed by three eminent ministers of _Boston_. Dated, _Boston_, _January 12, 1742_. This will give you a clear insight into what body of doctrines is professed and taught by the promoters of this work: how far they are from bigotry, and also may explain how the remaining violent opposers of those doctrines came to be so much exasperated.

The PREFACE to Mr. M‘GREGOR’s Sermon.

AS all the protestant churches in _Europe_, both _Episcopalian_ and _Presbyterian_, happily agreed at the time of the Reformation in the scripture doctrines of grace, as appears by the published harmony of their confessions; in particular, the church of _Scotland_ in 1560, the church of _England_ in 1562‒3, and the church of _Ireland_ in 1616; so it must be owned that the Presbyterians have generally persevered in a steady adherence to the original doctrines of the Reformation, to the present day.

And as the Assembly’s shorter catechism has been all along agreeable to the known principles of the _New-England_ churches, and has been generally received and taught in them, as a system of christian doctrine agreeable to the Holy Scriptures, wherein they happily unite; it is a great pleasure to us, that our Presbyterian brethren who come from _Ireland_ are generally with us in these important points, as also in the particular doctrines of experimental piety arising from them, and the wondrous work of GOD agreeable to them, at this day making its triumphant progress through the land; all now happily combining to illustrate and confirm each other in so glaring and strong a manner as is irresistible to serious and unprejudiced beholders; and has already forced many men of clear minds, strong powers, considerable knowledge, and firmly riveted in Arminian and Socinian tenets, to give them all up at once, and yield to the adorable sovereignty and irresistibility of the Divine Spirit in his saving operations on the souls of men.

For to see on the one hand, such men as these, some of them of licentious lives, long inured in a course of vices, and of high spirits, coming to the preaching of the word, some only out of curiosity, others with a strong antipathy and meer design to get matter of cavilling and banter; all at once, in opposition to their inward enmity, resolutions and resistances, to fall under an unexpected and hated power; to have all the strength of their resolution and resistance taken away; to have such an inward view of the horrid wickedness not only of their lives, but also of their hearts, with their exceeding great and immediate danger of eternal misery, as has amazed their souls and thrown them into distress unutterable, yea forced them to cry out in the assemblies with the greatest agonies: and then in two or three days, and sometimes sooner, to have such unexpected and raised views of the infinite grace and love of GOD in CHRIST, as have enabled them to believe in him, lifted them at once out of their distresses, filled their hearts with admiration, and joy unspeakable, and full of glory, breaking forth in their shining countenance and transporting voices to the surprise of those about them: and to see them kindling up at once, into a flame of love and praise to GOD, an utter detestation of their former courses and vicious habits, yea by such a detestation the very power of those habits at once receive a mortal wound: in short, to see their high spirits on a sudden humbled, their hard hearts made tender, their aversion from the Holy GOD now turned into a powerful and prevailing bent to contemplate upon him as revealed in CHRIST, to labour to be like him in holiness, to please and honour him by an universal and glad conformity to his will and nature, and promote his holy kingdom in all about them; loving them, forgiving them, asking forgiveness of them, abounding in acts of justice and charity, in a meek and condescending carriage towards the meanest, and aspiring after higher sanctity.

And to see other gentlemen of the like knowledge, parts and principles, and of sober, just and religious lives, as far as their meer reason with outward revelation are able to carry them, and prepossessed against this work as imagined enthusiasm, yet at once surprizingly to find themselves intirely destitute of that inward sanctity, and supreme love to GOD, and holiness, which the gospel teaches as absolutely needful to see the kingdom of grace and glory; to find themselves no more than conceited Pharisees, who had been working out a righteousness of their own for justification; and to have a clear discovery of their inward enmity to CHRIST, and the nature and way of redemption by him, with the native vileness of their hearts and lives, they had never seen before: in short, to find themselves yet unrenewed in the spirit of their minds, and under the heavy wrath and curse of GOD; to open into the clear discovery of their past delusions; to find the hardness of their hearts, the blindness of their minds, and their utter impotence to convert themselves, or believe in CHRIST; to lose all their former confidence, give up their beloved schemes, see themselves undone and helpless, and sink into a great distress: and then condemning themselves as guilty wretches, humbly lying at the foot of absolute and sovereign Grace, and looking up to CHRIST the only Mediator to reconcile them to the glorious GOD, to justify them wholly by his own most perfect righteousness, and to enlighten, quicken, sanctify, dwell in, and govern them by his Almighty Spirit; and there to wait till they find a new and mighty life and power come into their souls, enabling them to embrace, trust in, and love this divine Redeemer, rejoice with satisfaction in him, and perform every kind of duty both to GOD and man with pleasure, and with quite another frame and spirit than before.

Such great and sudden turns as these, are as evident demonstration as we can possibly conceive of the truth of the inspired scriptures, and in particular of those scripture doctrines, of the sovereign and victorious grace of CHRIST, received and taught among us: we see with our eye, that when he rideth forth on the word of truth, conquering and to conquer, his right-hand teaches terrible things. He makes his arrows so sharp and piercing in the hearts of his stoutest enemies, as oblige them to fall down under him; and when the day of his power comes on any people, he makes the most obstinate to be most gladly willing and obedient to him. And these _principles of grace_, and these _works of_ GOD, do most invincibly confirm each other.

And though it must be owned with sorrow, that some few who see these wondrous works continue unconvinced, yet this is no more strange than that some of the most learned and religious men, as were the Scribes and Pharisees, who saw the wondrous works of CHRIST on earth, yet continued unconvinced that they were the works of GOD, yea pursued him with unrelenting enmity and violence. However, it is a reviving consolation to us, that as this work surprizingly goes on from town to town, it goes on more and more to silence the most fierce opposers: though mighty oppositions rise at first, it bears them down before it, and our more mighty Saviour seems resolved to go on still from conquering to conquer.

In vain do its remaining enemies attempt to brand it with the name enthusiasm. For this is like the gentile _Romans_ branding the _Jewish_ religion with the hated name of superstition; and if this work is truly enthusiasm, then we have been wholly mistaken in the meaning of the word: and what they call enthusiasm, is a glorious and blessed work of GOD, most powerfully and suddenly changing the very hearts and lives of men; making them in a great degree like to CHRIST in love, and righteousness, and holiness, and meekness, and humility; filling their hearts with holy joy, and their mouths with praises.

But we must remit the remaining opposers to the law and testimony of GOD himself in the inspired oracles; as doth our reverend and dear brother the author of the following valuable sermon. And we are glad on this occasion to join our testimony with him, both to the same doctrines of grace, and to the wondrous work of GOD agreeable to them; as also to declare our great satisfaction to see him and others of our said presbyterian brethren concurring with us in them; with our apprehension that our uniting in these important points, is such a powerful band of union in christian love and fellowship, as should overcome the remains of every kind of prejudice that may yet subsist among our people: and our earnest wishes, that with a tender and meek forbearance of each other in different sentiments about church order and government, we may all unite in maintaining and promoting these more excellent and momentous points of grace, and vital piety.

THOMAS PRINCE,
JOHN WEBB,
WILLIAM COOPER.

_Boston, January 12, 1742._

A BRIEF
ACCOUNT
OF THE
Occasion, Process, _and_ Issue,
Of a Late
TRIAL
AT THE
ASSIZE held at GLOUCESTER, _March 3, 1743_
BETWEEN
Some of the People called METHODISTS, Plaintiffs,
AND
Certain Persons of the Town of MINCHIN-HAMPTON,
in the said County, Defendants.
IN A
LETTER to a FRIEND.

_And when the town-clerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of |Ephesus|, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the |Ephesians| is a worshipper of the great goddess |Diana|, and of the image which fell down from |Jupiter|. Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly. For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess. Wherefore if |Demetrius|, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies; let them implead one another. But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly. For we are in danger to be called in question for this day’s uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse._

Acts xix. 35‒40.

A BRIEF
ACCOUNT, &c.

_London, March 12, 1744._

_My dear friend_,