USA > Connecticut > A complete history of Connecticut, civil and ecclesiastical, from the emigration of its first planters, from England, in the year 1630, to the year 1764; and to the close of the Indian wars > Part 22
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In conversation with the dissatisfied, Mr. Robbins made several proposals for an accommodation : that they should refer their difficulties to a council ; the church should nomi- nate three, and the dissatisfied three. That they should represent his errors and faults, and that he would retract all the errors, and confess all the faults of which they should convict him, as fully and openly as the case required : or that the church should propose one article of agreement, and the dissatisfied another, until there were enough, then
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each side should comply with the others articles, if they Book II. were not sinful ; and that he would call a church meeting, and know whether the church would rescind their votes. 1746. The dissatisfied party would not agree to either of the pro- posals, but insisted on having three or five of the associa- tion. The brethren of the church who were present, de- clared, " that they could a. freely refer the matter to any three of the dissatisfied party, as to three of the associa- tion." So they parted without agreeing upon any terms of accommodation:
In this state of affairs, it was judged expedient to warn a meeting of the society, which, after a legal warning, met June 16th, 1746, when it was voted, "that this so- ciety is determined to abide by the votes we passed, Octo- ber 21st, 1745." And as a further testimony of their reso- lution, they personally and severally desired the clerk, in open meeting, to subscribe their names to said vote. Sixty five subscribed in open meeting ; afterward twelve more, who were absent at the society meeting, went to the clerk and desired him to enrol their names with those who were in the vote. In the meeting were twenty eight on- ly who dissented. The society voted, " that John Rus- sell, Esq. William Gould, Esq. and Samuel Rose, or any two of them, be a committee to represent this society, be- fore any ecclesiastical council, that may be called among us, to lay the votes of this, and the meeting in October last, before them ; also to deny and earnestly declare a- gainst their jurisdiction." It was reported, after the society meeting, when it was generally known that the ju- risdiction of the council would be denied, and neither an- swer given nor cause pleaded before them, that the arti- cles of charge were greatly multiplied. Since none of the articles were to be heard, it seems that the disaffected im- agined it would help their cause, to multiply articles of complaint against Mr. Robbins, both respecting his doc- trines and conduct.
Some time in September, a number of the disaffected people brought Mr. Robbins the citation following :
" To the Rev. Philemon Robbins, minister of the eldest Citation of parish in Branford, in the county of New-Haven, and colo- Mr. Rob- ny of Connecticut, and pastor there. bins.
" Rev. Sir,-A complaint against you, consisting of various articles, respecting both your preaching and your conduct and behaviour, bearing date, Branford, July 23d, 1746, signed Joseph Frisbie, a member of said church, (an attested copy of which is ordered to be delivered to you) being brought to me the subscriber, as last modera-
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Book II. tor of the consociation of said New-Haven county, with a request that the consociation might be called, to hear, 1746. judge and determine upon the several articles of complaint, according to the ecclesiastical constitution and establish- ment of this government ; and the association of this said county, in their last session at East-Guilford, May 27th, last, having advised the moderator of the said consociation, to call the said consociation after the end of June, then next, if properly applied to, in case the grievances and difficulties in said Branford, first church and society, were not accommodated, in the method by them prescribed; and being well informed that they are not so accommo- dated; I have therefore given order for the convening of the said consociation, of the county of. New-Haven, at the dwelling house of John Factor, in said Branford, at one of the clock in the afternoon, on the last Tuesday of Septem- ber next ensuing the date hereof ; and you the said Phile- mon Robbins, are hereby, in the name of Christ, cited and required to appear before the said consociation, at the time and place aforesaid, then and there to answer to the several articles of the said complaint ; and thereof you may not fail. By NATHANIEL CHAUNCEY, Moderator. Durham, August 28th, 1746."
With this citation the articles of complaint were deliv- ered. Those which respected his doctrine were,
Complaint against Mr. Rob- bins.
" 1. That he, the said Mr. Robbins, has in public ta- ken it upon him to determine the state of infants, dying in infancy, declaring that they were as odious in the sight of God, as snakes and vipers were to us ; and left it wholly in the dark whether there were any saved or not.
" 2. That he had assumed to himself the prerogative of God, the righteous judge, in judging the condition of the dead, in a funeral sermon, saying that they were in hell, to the great grief of mourning friends and others.
. " 3. That in his public preaching he had been guilty of speaking evil of dignities ; declaring, that the leaders or rulers of the people were opposers of the glorious work of God in the land ; and comparing our civil authority to and with Darius, who cast Daniel into the lion's den.
"4. In judging and declaring those persons carnal and unconverted, that did not approve of the late religious stir that has been in the land ; and in the improvement of his sermon dividing them, and calling one part, that is, the approvers, the children of God, and branding the other part, with the name and character of opposers.
" 5. The said Mr. Robbins has also publicly and censoriously judged those that did not fall in with and
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impute the religious stir in the land (which he calls a glori- Book II. ous work of God) to be the work of God's spirit, declar- ing such were guilty of the unpardonable sin. 1746.
"6. He has publicly asserted, and taught and laid down, that a man might be sincere in religion, and a strict ob- server of the sabbath, and yet be a hypocrite.
" 7. Said Mr. Robbins has publicly reflected upon and reviled the standing ministers of this land, calling them Arminians, and comparing them with and to false prophets, putting himself in the place of Micajah."
With respect to his Antinomian doctrines, they com- plained,
" 1. That he has publicly taught us, that there is no promise in all the bible that belongs to sinners : thereby frustrating the covenant of God's free grace, and the con- descension and compassion of God, and his Son, our Sav- iour, to poor, lost and perishing sinners.
"2. That there is no direction in all the bible how men should come to Christ, nor could he direct any persons how they should come to him : thereby rendering the study and search of the holy scriptures, at least an unsafe and insuffi- cient way of finding Christ ; and the preaching thereof useless.
" 3. He has publicly taught that it is as easy for per- sons to know when they are converted, as it is to know noon day light from midnight darkness ; making the only sure evidence of conversion to consist in inward feeling, and a sense of their love to God.
" 4. He has declared in public, that believers never doubt of their interest in Christ, after conversion ; and if they do, it is the sign of an hypocrite ; rendering sanctifi- cation no evidence of conversion or justification, and that believers are never in the dark.
" 5. He has also taught that God could easier convert the seat a man sits on, than convert a moral man ; and that the most vicious or vile person stands as fair for conviction and conversion as the strictest moral man : thereby mak- ing holiness and obedience to the moral law, no way ne- cessary to be found in men for their salvation.
"6. Mr. Robbins has taught that there are some sin- ners that Christ never died for, nor did he come to save them ; thereby perverting the great doctrines of redemp- tion in the gospel, and rendering all endeavours in men to obtain salvation, useless ; Arminianism, and blending the covenant of works and covenant of grace together."
With relation to his enthusiasm, which they complained of as exceedingly grievous to them, these articles were charged against him :
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BOOK II. '"1. That bitter and censorious spirit discovered by the said Mr. Robbins, against all, even civil magistrates, as well as ministers, who do not think the commotions in the land which bear the name of religion, a glorious work of God, and the effect of the agency of the Holy Spirit, de, claring all such to be guilty of the unpardonable sin.
" 2. In that strange heat of spirit, under which the said Mr. Robbins has acted ; discovered in a perpetual uneasi- ness, or craving to be preaching ; going into those inany un- scriptural night meetings, and frequent public preaching under a religious pretence ; consorting with, and improving those to preach and carry on in public, as well as in those private meetings, that have been most forward and famous for their enthusiasm in the present day.
" 3. In the spirit of pride and conceitedness, and ex- pectation to be believed only upon positive and bold asser- tion, discovered by said Mr. Robbins ; among other in- stances thereof, by publicly declaring, in a sermon, that the standing ministers in this land were Arminians, and calling them false prophets, while he put himself in the place of Micajah before Ahab, in 1 Kings, xxii. pro- nouncing these words upon it, That if the body of this people were in the way to eternal life, the Lord had not spoken by him.
" 4. Mr. Robbins has publicly taught, that unconverted persons have no right to praise GOD."
With respect to his conduct, these articles were charged :
"1. Mr. Robbins? earnestness in promoting and improv- ing strolling or travelling preachers ; and improving those that were most disorderly, to preach and exhort in the so- ciety ; more especially, in one such meeting carried on at his own house, by Messrs. Brainard and Buel ; and anoth- er, at the same place, carried on by Messrs. Wheelock and Munson ; to the dishonor of religion, to the just offence of many of the church and people, and to the destruction of peace and gospel order, in our church and society.
"2. His introducing Mr. Davenport to preach and ex- hort, and also his man to pray and sing, at the time when he went through the country, singing along the streets ; at- tended with this aggravating circumstance, that it was on sacrament day ; to the great confusion and disturbance of the church, and profaning of the sabbath in this society.
" 3. His preaching in Wallingford, in the meeting-house of the'anabaptists there ; and that contrary to the desire of a great number of the people at Wallingford, requesting him that he would not, and to the advice of neighbouring ministers to the contrary."
Though Mr. Robbins and the church were not instructed
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to make answer to these articles before the council ; Book II. yet, for his own satisfaction and vindication, and for the satisfaction of his people, he drew up a concise answer to 1746. them. This, in justice to his character, and the manifes- tation of the truth, ought here to be inserted. It is in effect as followeth :
To the objections against his doctrines ; " In a sermon, Mr. Roh- as I was labouring to confute an error, which I apprehend-
bins' an- ed was embraced by some of my people, viz. That the articles of swer to the death of Christ not only satisfied for, but wholly took away charge. original sin from all persons; I said, even infants were by nature children of wrath, and while unsanctified were as odious in the sight of God, as snakes and vipers are to us ; adding, that serpents when first come into the world, were not odious on account of any mischief they had done, but because of their serpentine nature ; but as to their salvation. no doubt but multitudes of them were saved."
With respect to his determining the state of the dead, his reply was, " I never spake of any particular person, when dead, as gone to hell absolutely, except those mentioned in the word of GOD. I suppose the article refers to an awakening discourse I had, after the death of a particular person, attended with some awful and extraordinary cir- cumstances, wherein I said, if the last person that went to hell, should arise and declare, &c. you would not believe, unless you will believe Moses and the prophets."
With respect to the third, under the head of doctrines, and the first article under the head of enthusiasm, his an- swer was, " I say again, I never declared my opinion of any person, or denomination of persons, as being guilty of the unpardonable sin ; and do not remember that ever i publicly censured any as opposers of the work of God, so that they might be known any otherwise than by their fruit. I do not know why the complainant should speak so much of my censuring magistrates, or ministers, unless he would tell me how, when, and in what discourses. I seldom have occasion to speak of them in public ; when I do, I careful- ly write what I say ; but I find what is received is often very different from what is delivered, not only in expres- sion, but in sense. As to my comparing our authority to Darius, &c. as before objected, I have looked over the whole sermon, from Dan. vi. 23. There is not a word there, of any civil authority, or civil rulers, from the doctrine to the end of the sermon. All I said about them was in opening the context, that speaks plainly its own meaning : and my disaffected neighbours were very atten- tive-but I studiously avoided saying any thing about any authority, since Darius' day."
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Воок II. With respect to his calling all persons unconverted who did not approve of the religious stir, he answered, "This 1746. I deny ; and instead of so preaching, I publicly declare, and teach, that the line of distinction between the righteous and the wicked cannot be so drawn as to leave all the ap- provers of the religious appearances in the land on the one side, and all that speak against them' on the other. I be- lieve many that are called opposers, are truly gracious, and many that have been approvers, are, I fear, without Gop in the world."
The article of natural men's sincerity, as consisting witlı hypocrisy, he answered, "I own the article with this alter- ation, instead of in religion, read in duty. So I expressed it, and added, 2d Cor. i. 10; we read of a godly sinceri- ty ; which may imply, that there is a sincerity which is not godly. So the servant that has no love to his master, sin- cerely labors to escape the whip."
His answer to the charge of persons having committed the unpardonable sin, was this, " I believe, and have spok- en of those that reject the glorious work that has been in the land, imputing all to the devil, that they know not what they do, otherwise they would come near the unpardonable sin, if not really be guilty of it; but never have declared my opinion of any person, or denomination of persons among us, as being guilty of it."
The seventh article, under the head of doctrines, is es- sentially the same as the third article of complaint under the head of enthusiasm, and are both answered together, in reply to that.
With regard to the first article under the head of Antino- mianism, relative to there being no promises to the unre- generate, his reply was, " The complainant knows, that I teach that all men are sinners, and that there are promises in the bible, belonging to some men ; but I have taught that there is no promise of any saving good, in all the bible, made to any unconverted man, or any sinner, while in an unregenerate state : And how this frustrates God's cove- nant of free grace, &c. I leave the orthodox world to judge."
In regard to article second, relating to directions how to come to Christ, he answered, "Ifirmly believe and teach, that the bible contains the best directions how men should come to Christ ; and his ministers are to make use of them to that end : But I have taught that an unregenerate man, merely by reading those directions, or hearing them from the mouth of a minister, will not thereby rightly understand and know them ; he may know them historically, but not.
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experimentally. I cannot direct an unconverted sinner Book II. how to come to Christ, so that he will know what it is, un- til the Father draw him ; and then he will know that it is 1746. one thing to give sinners gospel directions how to come to Mr. Rob- Christ, and another to enlighten their minds to understand bins' an- and receive them : the one is the duty of ministers, and swer, &c. the other is the work of Gon's holy spirit."
As to the charge of a christian's knowing the time of his conversion, he said, " The passage in a sermon, that I suppose this article refers to, ran in the following man- ner :- When a sinner is converted he knows it ; (i. e.) he knows the change, though it may be that he is not satisfied, or rather then does not think that it is conversion : (I mean that his mind may not then be exercised about the change he has experienced, as being conversion :) yet, can a man be brought out of the kingdom of Satan into the kingdom of the son of GOD ; can a man be brought out of midnight darkness into noon day light, and not know there is a change ?"
Relative to the article of christians not doubting after conversion, &c. he replied, "These articles leave me wholly in the dark, as to what sermons they refer to, what subject, what text preached from, or when preached : oth- erwise, I probably could give you most of the passages re- ferred to. But the article, I cannot think, refers to any thing I ever preached : for it is not likely I should preach directly contrary to my sentiments ; and I never thought as the article speaks ; but on the contrary, do often speak publicly of the doubts, fears, and scruples, of real chris- tians ; and sanctification I esteem the very best evidence of justification."'
In reference to the article of its being easier to convert the seat than a mere moral man, Mr. Robbins said, "I know nothing of the expression of the seat, &c. The passage which I suppose the article refers to, runs thus-It is a great- er manifestation of power to convert a mere moral man, than to create a world ; for in creation there is no resistance, but in conversion there is a blind mind and a perverse will to oppose. The most vicious person stands as fair, or fairer, for conviction and conversion, than the strictest moralist, that is settled upon his lees, and built strong on his own righteousness. Publicans and harlots shall enter into the kingdom of heaven before such. The inuendo, or inference, at the close of the article, I leave the ortho- dox to judge of; though I would fain believe the drafts- man of the articles, (being one of the reverend consocia- tion, as I am informed,) does not think that mere morality,
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Book Il. as the word is commonly used, and real holiness, are the same."
To the article of CHRIST's not dying to save some sin- ners, he answered, "I own the article, that there are some sinners that CHRIST never died for, with a design' to save them ; and yet I believe the merits of CHRIST sufficient for all, and that his satisfaction has as much vindicated the honor of the broken law of GOD, as if all mankind had been damned. But what a strange inference does the draftsman make, from my denying universal redemp- tion !"
The first article under enthusiasm, relative to the un- pardonable sin, is answered above. The third article, rel- ative to his censorious spirit and comparing himself to Micajah, is also answered under a similar article already noticed. With respect to the second article, his heat of spirit, and desire to be perpetually preaching, under pre- ience of religion, Mr. Robbins seems to have judged that the command, preach the word, be instant in season and out of season, and the examples of the apostles and prim- itive christians in their frequent night meetings, were a. sufficient answer. He replied, therefore, to the last article. of the charge only, as worthy of notice ; his improving ministers most forward and famous for enthusiasm in the present day ; " I have not admitted any man into my pulpit, that was not ordained or licensed."
In answer to the charge of his teaching that the uncon- verted had no right to praise GOD, he said, " I have taught that unconverted persons cannot rightly praise GOD ; (as they can do no other duty rightly, either from a right prin- ciple, or for a right end ;) but that it is the duty of all men fo praise GOD ; witness more than twenty sermons I have preached on that beloved subject."
With respect to the first article of charge, relative to im- " + proving strolling preachers, Brainard, Buel, Wheelock, &c. Mr. Robbins replied, " I believe my improving itinerant preachers has had some happy effect here. That the meet- ing carried on by Messrs. Buel and Brainard had a good ef- fect upon some persons, I cannot but think. But it had some unhappy attendants; and I believe neither they nor I should carry on a meeting just in the same form again. The other was after Mr. Wheelock had been preaching a public lecture. A number of persons came to iny house, under concern about their spiritual state. We discoursed and prayed with them. Some evidenced great concern ; and I cannot but think, one especially was then, and since, convinced of sin, righteousness, and judgment."
1746. Mr. Rob- bins' an- swer, &c.
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Relative to introducing Mr. Davenport to preach, &c. Book II. Mr. Robbins, replied, " Mr. Davenport came in on Satur- day evening ; I asked him to preach the next day. Iknew 1746. nothing of his design to sing in the street, until we had Mr. Rob- got part of the way to meeting. When he mentioned it, I bins' an- labored to prevent, and did not join with him in it. I think swer, &c. he preached well, and after service was ended, in the af- ternoon, he spoke to his man to pray, but not with my con- sent, or my liking."
In answer to his preaching at Wallingford, he said, " This is the grand article, and sine qua non of all the rest. You have an account of the matter before, in this narrative, and I shall here only say-the baptist minister desired that I would come and preach for him ; and I knew of no ob- jection against it, when I consented to go. The weight of objections that were flung in my way afterwards, the world must judge of."
With respect to his being a promoter of schismatical separations, baptizing at New-Haven, &c. his reply was, " With respect to baptizing Dr. Mix's child, I offered this to the consociation, viz. had I known as much before, as I do now, I should not have done it. They voted to over- look it. I offered the same to the complainant, and sev- eral others, who said they were easy with respect to that, and all other articles they had complained of ; and left it under their hands. Notwithstanding, most of those arti- cles are brought in among these. As to separating from the constitution, if it means Saybrook platform, I do not know that this church was ever fairly under it. There is no record nor any living member that knows any thing of its ever being voted into the church : and when, (after some of my brethren had been urging it for more than twelve months,) I put it to vote in the church, to renounce the Say- brook platform and take the Cambridge platform, there were but six brethren appeared in the negative. All the defence I desired against the association, was only to know the minds of my people in sundry votes, which they readily passed, and have since voted to abide by.
With respect to his haughty, assuming, and unpeaceable spirit, and being truly self-willed, and his treatment of the association, his answer was, " As to the prudent and gen- tle measures taken by the reverend association, to com- pose our difficulties, and settle us in love, peace, and gos- pel order, it is well known, that the association has received articles of complaint against me, privately signed and car- ried into the association, time after time, when I had not been informed of one of the articles, or any one of the
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Book II. signers ; and have appointed a council, or committee, time after tinie, to come to Branford, and make inquiry, when 1746. neither minister, church or society desired it. Is this a prudent and gentle method to settle us in peace, &c. ? As to my obstinacy, and refusing to comply with my duty and promise, to get into good standing, &c. I never promised any more than to do my endeavour to get into good stand- ing ; in order to which, I have offered four written confes- sions, as you have seen before, but could not be received."
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