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 25
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" Great numbers under this influence, have been brought to a sense of their own sinfulness and vileness ; the sinful- ness of their lives, the heinousness of their disregard of the great GOD, and the heinousness of living in contempt of a SAVIOUR. It has been a common thing, that persons have had such a sense of their own sinfulness, that they have thought themselves the worst of all, and that none ever were so vile as they : and many seem to have been greatly convinced, that they were utterly unworthy of any mercy at the hands of GOD, however miserable they were, and though they stood in extreme necessity of mercy ; and that they deserved nothing but eternal burnings ; and have been sensible that Gon would be altogether just and right-
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Book II: cous in inflicting endless damnation upon them .- And so far as we are worthy to be credited, one by another, in what we say, multitudes in New-England have lately been brought to a new and great conviction of the truth and certainty of the gospel ; to a firm persuasion that JESUS is the SON of GOD, and the great and only SAVIOUR of the world ; and that the great doctrines of the gospel, touching reconciliation by his blood, and acceptance in his right- eousness, and eternal life and salvation through him, are matters of undoubted truth : together with a most affecting sense of the excellency and sufficiency of this Saviour, and the glorious wisdom of GOD shining in this way of sal- vation, &c .- With a sensible, strong and sweet love to Gop, and delight in him, far surpassing all temporal de- lights, or earthly pleasures ; and a rest of soul in him, as. the fountain of all good, attended with abhorrence of sin, and self loathing for it, and earnest longings after more holiness, &c. And these things appear to be, in many of them, abiding now for many months, yea, more than a year and an half; with an abiding concern to live an holy life. And not only do these effects appear in new converts ; but great numbers of those that formerly were esteemed the most sober and pious people, have, under the influence of this work, been greatly quickened, and their hearts re- newed with greater degrees of light, renewed repentance and humiliation, more lively exercises of faith, love and joy in GeD.
" And under the influences of this work, there have been many of the remains of those wretched people and dregs of mankind, the poor Indians, that seemed to be next to a state of brutality, and with whom, till now, it seemed to be to little more purpose to use endeavours for their instruc- tion and awakening, than with the beasts ; whose minds have been now strangely opened to receive instruction, and have been deeply affected with the concerns of their precious souls, and have reformed their lives, and have forsaken their former stupid, barbarous and brutish way of living ; and particularly that sin to which they have been so exceedingly addicted, their drunkenness ; and are be- come devout and serious persons ; and many of them brought, to appearance, truly and greatly to delight in the things of God, and to have their souls very much engaged in the things of the gospel. And many of the poor negroes also have, in like manner, been wrought upon and changed.
" And the souls of very many little children, have been remarkably enlightened, and their hearts wonderfully af- fected and enlarged ; and their mouths opened, expressing
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themselves far beyond their years, and to the just astonish- Book II. ment of those that have heard them; and some of them, · from time to time, for many months, greatly and delight- fully affected with the glory of divine things, and with the excellency and love of the REDEEMER, with their hearts greatly filled with love and joy in him, and have continued to be serious and pious in their behaviour.
" The divine power of this work has marvellously ap- peared, in some instances I have been acquainted with, in supporting and fortifying the heart, under great trials, such as the death of children, and extreme pain of body; won- derfully maintaining the serenity, calmness and joy of the soul, in an immoveable rest in GOD, and sweet resignation to him. There also have been instances of some that have been the subjects of this work, that, under the blessed in- fluences of it, have, in such a calm, bright and joyful frame of mind, been carried through the valley of the shadow of death.
" And now let us consider,-Is it not strange that, in a christian, orthodox country, and such a land of light as this is, there should be many at a loss whose work this is, whether the work of GOD, or the work of the devil ? Is it not a shame to New-England, that such a work should be much doubted of here? Need we look over the histories of all past times, to see if there be not some circumstances and external appearances that attend this work, that have formerly been found amongst enthusiasts ?- whether the montanists had not great transports of joy, and whether the French prophets had not agitations of body ? Blessed be God! he does not put us to the toil of such inquiries. We need not say, who shall ascend into heaven, to bring us down something whereby we may judge of this work ? Nor does GoD send us beyond the seas, nor into past ages, to obtain a rule that shall determine and satisfy us. But we have a rule near at hand, a sacred book, that Gon him- self has put into our hands, with clear and infallible marks, sufficient to resolve us in things of this nature; which book, I think, we must reject, not only in some particular passages, but in the substance of it, if we reject such a work as has now been described, as not being the work of GOD, The whole tenor of the gospel proves it ; all the notion of religion that the scripture gives us."
He mentions three things, in which those who judged unfavourably of the work, exceedingly erred, viz .- by judging of it a priori, from the manner in which it began; the instruments which had been employed in it; the means and manner in which it had been carried on, &c. He
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BOOK II. shows, that no just judgment could be formed from these ; that if it was found to agree with the scriptures, that was sufficient for us. That they erred in not making the scrip- tures the only rule, and whole rule, in judging ; and in not justly separating and distinguishing the good from the bad. He observes, that the weakness of human nature has al- ways appeared in times of a great revival of religion, by a disposition to run into extremes, and get into confusion ; and especially in these three things, enthusiasm, supersti- tion, and intemperate zeal. He shows this to have been the case, even in the times of the apostles, and at the re- formation. He observes the great disorders, divisions, and evil things, which were in the church at Corinth ; and to what lengths we might reasonably suppose they would have gone, had they not been prevented by inspired guides. He suggests that, by the increase of their irregu- larities and contentions, they would have broken to pieces, and dissolved in the utmost confusion. And yet this would have been no evidence that the Spirit of God had not, in a most glorious and remarkable manner, been poured out upon that city. He shows outcries and bodily agitations, were no new things under great awakenings ; and that they were no evidences of grace, nor any evidence against it, as they had been found in men of the greatest eminence for piety and genuine religion, as well as in others : that great degrees of terror and of joy were no evidences that the work was not the work of GOD, as persons eminent for ho- liness, both in primitive and later times, had been the sub- jects of them.
He shows the indispensable duty of magistrates, minis- . ters and people, by all means to promote, and carry on such a glorious work ; and the great sin and danger of op- posing it. He evinces that all ought to rejoice in it, and give thanks for it. He suggests that there was reason to fear that GOD had been greatly provoked, in that civil ru- lers had proclaimed no public thanksgivings to render praise to GOD for it, and that they had done so little to promote it.
He observes, that above all others, GOD's eye was upon the ministers of the gospel, expecting them to arise and acknowledge him, and honor him in the work, and do their utmost for its encouragement and promotion : That this was the very work and business of their office.
With respect to others, he represented, that as all the people brought a willing offering unto the Lord, to build the tabernacle in the wilderness, so that with a willing and cheerful heart, every man, woman, and child, ought to do
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something to promote the work : That they who could not Book II. bring onyx stones, gold or silver, might, at least, bring goats hair.
He shows what things had been complained of, relative to the work, without or beyond any just cause ; and then, what things ought to be corrected and avoided in advanc- ing the work, and in the behavior of the people under it. He notices and condemns the errors, makes clear distinc- tions with respect to that in which true religion consists, and in what it does not, and gives excellent directions for the conduct of ministers and people, in such a day as that was. He compares those who could see nothing of the work of GOD, in the reformation which had been effected, to subjects in the kingdom of a great and good prince, who, when all the people were rejoicing and proclaiming his ex- cellencies and honor, on the day of his coronation, should rather appear sorrowful than joyous, and dwell only on some defects they might notice in his body, walk, or con- duct ; or who on his marriage, to a beautiful and excellent princess, when the nation in general were rejoicing with great gladness, should manifest no joy on the occasion, but employ themselves in remarking upon, and aggravat- ing some small defects in the royal bride, in her beauty, or dress, or in the manner in which the marriage was conduct- ed; and enquires whether such could be considered as loyal subjects, well affected towards their prince ?
Dr. Chauncey, who had been an eye witness of the work Dr. Chaun- at Boston, and the wonderful reformation which had been cey writes effected in that metropolis of the province, differed entire- ly from those excellent men, Dr. Coleman, Dr. Sewall, against Mr _ against the work, and Mr. Cooper, Mr. Gee, and most of the ministers in that Edwards. town, and appeared to be a great opposer of the work. He wrote a large book, of between four and five hundred pages, relative to it, in which he dwells abundantly on the irregularities and errors attending the work, all calculated - to set it in the most disadvantageous point of light. He inserts in liis preface the story of the Antinomians and en- thusiasts, in Mr. Cotton's day in Boston, among whom the famous Mrs. Hutchinson was a principal actor, who were full of falsehood and deceit, and represents or insinuates at least, that the new lights, as they were called, were of the same character, enthusiasts and liars. In his introduction, he undertakes to give a general view of a work of GOD, in which many things are well said ; but nothing so dis- tinguishing with respect to the loving of GOD for his own perfections and glory, rejoicing in them, and in the divine government, with a full sense of the glory of Gop, of his
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Book II. love to men, of the glory of the work of redemption, the transcendant excellency and loveliness of Christ, and the principles from which external acts of conformity to the divine law originate, as Mr. Edwards and many other di- vines. And it is remarkable, that all the marks of a work of GOD which he specifies, were found in most of those who made a profession of a change of heart and obedience to CHRISt, at that time. Indeed, they were found and increas- ed in many of them, during their whole lives. He remarks, a forsaking of vice and sin, as one special mark of a work of GOD. And when was there ever such a forsaking of all open sins and vice, and such a general reformation of man- ners, as at this time ?. He mentions a spirit of forgiveness and forbearance, as a mark of the work of Gop. And at what time before or since, did ever so many confess their faults one to another, and forgive one another, as at this time ? Persons who had been long at enmity one with an- other, whom nothing before could reconcile, now con- fessed, with shame and contrition, their ill treatment of each other, and became apparently reconciled in the bands of brotherly love. He makes love to the house of worship and ordinances of Gon, an evidence of the work of GOD. And who ever saw ministers and people in general, so in- stant in season and out of season, to preach and to hear the word ? When did people ever so flow to the house of GOD ; hear with such attention; keep the sabbath, and attend sacraments with such apparent zeal and pleasure ; and so much abound in singing the praises of GOD, as at this time? He mentions repentance and mourning for sin, as an evi- dence of the work of GOD: And when was there ever in New-England, so deep and general a sense of the evil of sin, of the danger of it, and such apparent mourning for it, as against an holy Gop, as at this time ?
The first part of his book, after the introduction, the Dr. entitles, "Particularly pointing out the things of a bad and dangerous tendency in the late religious appearances in New-England." The first thing he mentions of this na- ture, is itinerant preaching. This, he says, had its rise in these parts from Mr. Whitefield. He owns he never could see from what warrant, either from scripture or reason, he went about preaching ; and intimates that his design was his own worldly advantage, that he made large col- lections, &c. and faults him for leaving his own little charge ; intimates that none but himself could tell the amount of the presents he received in that town. Mr. Whitefield gave a satisfactory account of these matters to other ministers in Boston, and to ministers and people
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who were well affected towards the doctrines he preached, Book II. and the work he was instrumental in promoting. That he should preach every day in the week, and often twice and Doctor three times a day, and often ride many miles and preach Chauncey when he was so weak as not to be able to mount his horse religious without help, pass dangerous seas, endure such fatigues appear- by day and night, through a whole life, and conduct him- ances. self with such piety and devotion, to the end of his days, on worldly motives, and that he should, after all the collec- tions he made for his orphans, die poor at last, is not credi- ble. 'That he was able to effect what he did with his col- lections, may afford abundant satisfaction on this head, and show that the Doctor's imputations were uncharitable.
against the
He equally blames Mr. Tennant, for leaving his people, and preaching as an itinerant in New-England. But Mr. Tennant undertook this only by the advice and desire of his brethren in the ministry, who, upon receiving the ac- counts of the great awakenings in New-England, and at Boston in particular, judged that it would be well to send him to the assistance of their brethren in these parts, and advance the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom. He hesitated at first ; it was a matter of very great self denial, to leave his family and people for such a length of time. He must necessarily endure much hardship and fatigue, and be exposed to many dangers. But at the earnest de- sire and mature advice of his brethren, he undertook the journey, and appears to have performed the mission on which he was sent, with great zeal, labour and fidelity. He proved himself to be a faithful brother, and received the thanks of the ministers in Boston, in general, for his searching, fervent preaching, and abundant labours. Dr. Chauncey, nevertheless, brands him, Mr. Whitefield and all itinerant preachers, with the odious character of busy bodies. "I see not but those," says he, " who make it their practice to go about gathering assemblies in other men's parishes, properly come under the character of busy bodies."* In short, he compares them to those deceitful workers, whom the apostle represents, as transforming themselves into the ministers of righteousness, according to the example of satan, who can transform himself into an angel of light.t He introduces letters, calling them by the worst names, and possessed of the worst feelings ; with such declarations as these : " As to the present itine-
* Page 42. He quotes with apparent approbation, the extraordinary act of the legislature of Connecticut, prohibiting ministers preaching out of their own parishes, without the consent of the minister and churches where they preached. 1 Page 44.
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Book II. rants, it is remarked, as certain and obvious, that the most, if not all of theni, are swollen and ready to burst with spir- itnal pride." " Such ignorant and mischievous itinerants as are now caressed and encouraged." "Those vagrants," &c .* Ile takes up almost eighty pages in decrying itinerant preachers, introducing letters, exhortations of ministers who were evidently prejudiced and embittered against them, and quotations from authors, calculated to set them. in the worst point of light. The next thing he takes notice of, as of bad tendency, is the great fears and terrors which some had, and the effects which it had upon their bodies. This he conceived of a very dangerous tendency. These he pretends were highly thought of, as sure evidences of grace, &c. whereas, it does not appear that any but the separates approved of these things, or considered them as any evidences of grace. Not one minister in Connecticut considered them as such. Mr. Edwards showed that they were no evidences of grace, nor were they any evidences against it. Especially in his thoughts on religion, and in his treatise on religious affections, he shows from scripture and the best writers, that the most eminent men for piety have been the subjects of them, as well as wicked men.
No men, so far as I am acquainted with the writers of New-England, and of protestants in general, have more clearly distinguished between all the errors and delusions of these times, and shown wherein true religion consisted, than the gentlemen who favoured the uncommon religious concern and reformation, especially Dr. Coleman, Mr. Edwards and Mr. Bellamy in New-England,, and the Rev. Jonathan Dickinson, in New-Jersey.
Dr. Chauncey collected the most exaggerated accounts from those who were the most zealous opposers of the work, and even condescended so low as to publish accounts front newspapers relative to it, throwing the greatest odi- um and reproach upon it ; and represents the effects of the preaching at that time, such as might be expected from mad men, raving from bedlam, hallowing and screaming and frightening the people.i Ile attempts to prove, that it was not a divine work ; and he takes it as a certain fact, that the spirit of God could not be in it. He trusts that from these things, he had made it evident, that the ap- pearances had been produced, only by the wild and ex- travagant conduct of overheated preachers .;
He employs between twenty and thirty pages, in re- presenting the bad principles of Mr. Davenport, Messrs. Pomeroy, Wheclock, and Allen ; and represents them as. * Page 6!, € ?. + Page 06, 106. į Page 99.
Doctor Chauncey against the reli- gious ap- pear- auces.
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having imbibed the principles of quakerism in college, Book II. which had now broke out again. He represents Mr. Pom- eroy and Mr. Wheelock as the principal instruments of Doctor the disorders and confusion in Connecticut. Nothing, I Chauncey suppose, was more groundless and unjust than these insinu- religious ations. The great body of those who were subjects of the appearan- divine operations at that time, were humble, prayerful, so- ces, &c. ber christians ; loved and adhered to their ministers, and were strict in their morals. Those who imbibed errors, and went into bad conduct, were few, when compared with the others. Mr. Pomeroy and Mr. Wheelock were not accused of any false doctrine, or any tincture of qua- kerism, by the associations, or consociations, to which they belonged ; but were in good repute, esteemed, and treated with respect, by their brethren in the ministry, who had the most intimate acquaintance with them. They were greatly beloved by their people ; and I never knew of a quaker, or separate, in either of their parishes. They op- posed the separations, and united with their brethren in condemning the errors of the times.f But the Doctor hav- ing said what he judged proper to depreciate and blacken the characters of those gentlemen, concludes that head with this observation :- " This enthusiastic spirit, it appears to me, is one of the most dangerous that can take place in a land. It is, indeed, the true spirit of quakerism ; the seed plat of delusion."; He proceeds but a few pages before he again introduces Mr. Davenport, and his conduct. Af- ter observing, "that there were no absurdities, either in doctrine or practice, but they" (that is, such men) "are capable of falling into, instances whereof have been com- mon in all ages of the world," he quotes Mr. Flavel, as fol- lows :- " In the beginning of our reformation, by Luther and Calvin, &c. there sprung up a generation of men, call- ed Swenkseldians, great pretenders to revelations and visions ; who were always speaking of deifications ; and used a higher strain of language among themselves, than other serious christians understood; and they, therefore, scornfully styled orthodox and humble christians, who
t I had an intimate acquaintance with those gentlemen, and with their people ; was brought up under the preaching of Dr. Pomeroy ; lived some time in the family of Dr. Wheelock ; heard them both preach abundantly ; and I never saw or heard of any thing, in either of them, which savoured in the least degree of quakerism. They were some of the most distinguish- ing preachers, in their day, between true and false religion. They were strict in their morals, and extensive in their charity. They ever consider- ed themselves as greatly injured by Dr. Chauncey. He took up reports against his brethren, not at the mouth of two or three witnesses, and with- out inquiring whether they were friends or enemies.
1 ¿ Page 217.
1
against the
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Book II. stuck to scripture phrases, and wholesome forms of sound words, grammatists, vocabulists, literalists," &c.§
Doctor Chauncey against the religious ces, &c. The Doctor appears to have been a gentleman of pretty extensive reading, and a good scholar; but it is very re- markable, that he frequently, by his concessions and quo- appearan- tations, insensibly gives up his whole argument. This he seems to do in this place. If the glorious work of Gop, in the reformation, was attended with such errors and con- fusion, then the work in New-England might also be a glo- sious work of GOD, notwithstanding the enthusiasm and errors which some imbibed. It cannot be pretended, that Luther and Calvin, whom GOD made so remarkably instru- mental in the reformation, were without great faults. Who can justify the bitter zeal and language of Luther, and some instances of Calvin's conduct ? But if imperfect men, attended, in some instances, with great faults, have been used as great and principal instruments of such a. glorious work as the reformation, then GoD might also im- prove such instruments in the reformation in this country ; and it might have been, notwithstanding, a glorious work of GOD : and so the Doctor's argument against the work is wholly overthrown. If Gon hath done it in this instance, it is perfectly correspondent with the operations of his pro- vidence in other instances.
The Doctor inveighs exceedingly against exhorters, con- demns the violent things which have been said, in oppo- sition to unconverted ministers, and against many errors and disorders of those times, and has said many things worthy of serious attention, with a variety of quotations from the best authors upon those subjects .*
In the second part of his book, he represents "the ob- ligations which lay upon all the pastors of these churches in particular, and upon all in general, to use their endea- vours to suppress the disorders prevailing in the land ; with the great danger of their neglect in so important a ¡natter." " The obligations to this, (he says,) are solemn and weighty; and they are binding upon the pastors of these churches in particular, and upon all in general." " The churches in this land, upwards of an hundred years ago, were almost ruined with their religious disturbances. "The spirit which then operated was surprisingly similar to the spirit of these times."t He represents the whole work as nothing but error and enthusiasm ; and about forty or fifty pages are employed to stir up ministers and people against it.
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