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 27
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The general association of the colony of Connecticut ac- knowledge the goodness of God in this revival, and give thanks unto him for such a merciful visitation .*
Attesta- tions from New-Jer- sey and
The Rev. Jonathan Dickinson, president of the college Pennsylva- at Elizabethtown, attested the work as a gracious and glo- nia. rious visitation of God's people ; and at the close of his narrative of the work of GOD at Elizabethtown and New- ark, he observes, " I was exceedingly gratified by the dec- laration of your last convention of ministers at Boston, and have reason to praise God that there is such a number among you who are willing to give him the glory of his special grace so eminently displayed of late." In his nar- rative he says, " numbers were almost daily repairing to me for direction and assistance in their eternal concerns ; there were then probably more come to me in one day on that errand than usually in half a year's space before." Af- terwards, in a letter to the Rev. Mr. Foxcraft, he says, "I have still the comfortable news to inform you of, that there is yet a great revival of religion in these parts. I have had more young people address me for direction in their spiritual concerns within these three months, than in thirty years before."t The three presbyteries of New-York, New-Brunswick and New-Castle, owned it as a glorious work of Gop. The presbytery of New-York protested against such things as tended to disparage the work, or re- flect dishonor upon it. Their protest is in these words : "We protest against all those passages in any of the
* Records of the General Association, 1742.
+ Prince's Christian Ilistory, vol. 1, p. 256 and 258.
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pamphlets which have been published in these parts, Book II. which seem to reflect upon the work of divine power and grace which has been carrying on in such a wonderful 1743. manner in many of our congregations, and declare to all the world, that we look upon it to be the indispensable du- ty of all our ministers to encourage that glorious work with their most faithful and diligent endeavours."} The pres- byteries of New-Brunswick and New-Castle, manifested their cordial concurrence with the protestation of the pres- bytery of New-York. The Rev. Jonathan Dickinson was the first signer of the protest of the presbytery of New- York.
To these testimonials of this glorious work of God, it is Testimo- important to add the attestation of the Rev. Mr. Prince; ny of the one of the seribes of the convention at Boston, viz : Rev. Mr, Prince.
" That very few of the ministers present in the late ven- erable assembly, complained of errors, or disorders in the congregations they belonged to : That several declared they had none from the beginning ; but, in the extraordi- nary revival of religion among their people, the work had been carried on with great seriousness and regularity : That others declared, that where there had been some dis- orders and mistakes at first in some, through the great num- bers suddenly and mightily awakened, the great dis- tresses of some in their convictions, the great joy of others on their laying hold on Christ and finding a wondrous change within them, the frailty of some, and the surprise of all; yet, in a little while, they saw and owned their mis- takes, came into a more settled way of thinking, speaking and behaving, and the disorders ceased ; declaring also, that both errors and disorders had been greatly magnified and multiplied, above what they really were, in the con- gregations they belonged to ; and that as far as they could learn, the greatest errors and disorders were in those pla- ces where the ministers opposed the work, and thereby lost much of their respect and influence.
" To this may be added, that as several of the Rev. pas- tors present in the said assembly, subscribed the testimo- ny and advice as to the substance, others, as to substance, scope and end, and others without restriction : this seem- ed chiefly to arise from this particular passage in the ad- vice, viz. " That ministers do not invade the province of others, and in ordinary cases, preach in another's parish, without his consent."" In which particular article, some of the pastors thought that ministers preaching in other ministers parishes, was not sufficiently testified against-
# Prince's Christian History, vol. 2, p. 291.
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Book II. Other pastors feared, that this article was in danger of be- ing construed and perverted to the great infringement of 1743. christian and human liberty of conscience. And other pastors apprehended that this article was sufficiently guard- ed by the limitation to ordinary cases : leaving it to the serious conscience, both of ministers and others, to judge, when the cases are ordinary or not ordinary.
" And as people of all denominations and opinions in the christian world, reckon it lawful, in many cases, for ministers to preach in the parishes of others, without their knowledge and against their consent : Thus the protes- fants preached in the parishes of papist ministers in Hun- gary, and formerly in France ; the presbyterians, congre- gationalists, baptists and quakers, in the parishes of epis- copalian ministers in England, Ireland, Virginia and Caro- lina ; the episcopalians, baptists and quakers, in the par- ishes of congregational ministers in New-England; and this liberty cannot be invaded, or denied, without inhu- manly invading the essential rights of conscience : So it must be left to the serious consciences of ministers and peo- ple : And in the free exercise of conscience, they are doubtless to be indulged, with great tenderness, meekness and forbearance ; as every man desires to be indulged in the liberty of his own conscience."*
Mr. Prince's observa- tions.
Mr. Prince, in the account he gives of the work in Boston, observes, "Those who call these convictions by the name of religious frights or fears, and then ascribe them to the mere natural or mechanical influence of terri- ble words, sounds and gestures, moving tones or boiste -. rous ways of speaking, appear to me to be not sufficiently acquainted with the subjects of this work, as carried on in the town in general, or with the nature of their convic- tions.t No, conviction is quite another thing. It is the work of the spirit of God, a sovereign, free and almighty agent ; wherein he gives the sinful soul such a clear and lively view of the glory of the divine sovereignty, omni- presence, holiness, justice, truth and power ; the exten- siveness, spirituality and strictness of his law ; the binding nature, efficacy and dreadfulness of his curses ; the multi- tude and heinousness of its sins, both of commission and omission ; the horrible vileness, wickedness, perverseness and hypocrisy of heart, with its utterimpotency, either right- ly to repent, or believe in Christ, or change itself : so that it sees itself in a lost undone and perishing state ; without
* Prince's Christian History, vol. i. page 197, 198.
t To these natural causes, Dr. Chauncey attempts to make it appear that the work was to be ascribed, and not to the spirit of God,
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the least degree of worthiness to recommend it to the right- Book II. eous and holy God, and the least degree of strength to help it out of this condition. These discoveries are made 1743. by some revealed truths, either in reading, hearing or re- membrance : When in hearing, sometimes by words of terror, and sometimes by words of tenderness : And the Holy Spirit, with such internal evidence and power, ap- plies them to the conscience, that they become as sharp arrows, piercing into the heart, wounding, paining and sticking in it, when all the mechanical impressions of frightful sounds are over, for many days, and weeks, and months, if not years together ; until this Divine Agent, by these and other convictions, agreeable to his inspired' word, entirely subdues the soul to Christ."
Further, to show the absurdity of those men who as- cribed this glorious work to natural causes, he observes, " In Old England and in New, I have been a constant preacher and observer of the religious state of those who heard me, for above thirty years ; they have passed un- der many scores of most dreadful tempests of thunder and lightning ; wherein, as the psalmist represents, the voice of the Lord was upon the waters, the God of glory thun- dered : Yea, even since the revival ; on Friday night, July 30th, 1742, at the lecture in the south church, near nine o'clock, being very dark, there came on a very terrible storm of thunder and lightning ; and just as the blessing was given, an amazing clap broke over the church, with piercing repetitions, which set many a shrieking, and the whole assembly into great consternation. God then ap- peared terrible out of his high places. He thundered marvellously with his voice : and at this, the hearts of ma- ny (as Elihu's) trembled, and were moved out of their places, for near two hours together. And yet in all thesc displays of the majesty of God, and terrifying apprehen- sions of danger, of sudden destruction, neither in this sur- prising night, nor in all the course of thirty years, have I' scarce known any, by these kinds of terrors, brought under genuine conviction. And what minister has a voice like God, and can thunder like him ?"*
Nothing is more evident from scripture and the course Observa- of providence, than this, that genuine convictions and a tions on a general reformation among a people, cannot be effected general view of the by the most alarming appearances, and the most tremen- work, dous judgments, without the special operations of the Holy Spirit upon the heart. Did all the terrible things done in Egypt, and at the Red Sea, produce conviction and refor-
* Prince's Christian History, vol. ii. p. 386, 387, 383, 389,
1
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Book II. mation in the Egyptians ? Did the destruction of all the first born, in one night, bring them to repentance ? Did Observa- tions, &c. all the wonders in the wilderness, and the tremendous ap- pearance of God on Mount Sinai, at which Moses and all Israel greatly feared and trembled, produce a genuine con- yiction and reformation ? Have mighty earthquakes, which have shaken cities to their foundations, and buried thou- sands of the citizens in their ruins, been able to produce these effects ? Have the most mortal sicknesses, which have deprived families of a numerous offspring in a few weeks, and spread mourning through a whole country- have the terrible visitations which some of our capital cities have, of late years, experienced, had those happy effects ? Certainly they have not. Gon has reserved it for the peculiar honour of his HOLY SPIRIT, to convince men of their sins, renew their hearts, and reform their lives. They afford strong evidence, that there is a Gop, and of the truth, power, and excellency of the christian religion.
A great outcry was made against the disorders which, in some places, attended the work; but of these, in most of the churches, there was little or nothing ; and, perhaps, they were not greater in any than were found in the church at Corinth, even in the apostolic age. Allowing that there were some impostors and false teachers, this is no more than was found in the primitive and best ages of the church. How does the apostle Paul complain of false apostles and evil workers, and of such as made shipwreck of the faith.
A great matter was made of the separations which were made in some places, and of the enthusiasm which appear- ed among them. These, indeed, were unhappy; their errors, at first, were great and dangerous ; and the separa- tions, in some places, 'have been of lasting disadvantage, both in a civil and religious view. Yet, in justice, there ought to be some things said in their favour, and in extenua- tion of their faults : there were some things in the church- es in general, at that time, which were grievous to many good people, and have been judged wrong by the great body of judicious and learned divines; particularly, that unregenerate men have a right to the sacramental table ; can consistently enter into covenant with Gop, and partake of the Lord's supper, and ought to do it as a means of their conversion to GoD ;* and that persons who did not come to the Lord's supper, might have their children baptized, upon what was called owning the covenant. Another er- ror of these times, was, the ordaining of ministers, or in-
* This seems to have been the case at Canterbury, and other extraor- ¿mary measures were taken. :
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troducing them into the ministry, without the call of the Book II. church, or against a majority of it; and sometimes even where there was not a majority of the legal voters in the Observa- society, for the candidate to be ordained.f In some other tions con- instances, separations were occasioned, not by enthusiasm, tinued. or error, as to the doctrines ¿of the gospel, but by reason of the ordination ; though not against a majority of the church and society, yet against a large minority of sober, respectable and orthodox members, both of the church and society, who were opposed to the doctrines and preaching of the candidate, who was ordained. At the same time, the severe and extraordinary act of the colony, enforcing the constitution by law, which never was originally de- signed, and was, undoubtedly, inconsistent with the rights of conscience, gave further ground of disaffection to the constitution, and of separation from the standing churches. The shutting of the zealous and powerful preachers out of their pulpits, by numbers of the ministers ; the suspending of persons from the communion of the churches, for hearing them in other parishes, had a further ill tendency, to cre- ate distrust in their own ministers, as to their real religion, and to alienate their minds from them.
It is also abundantly evident, from the accounts given of those times, that there was a great defect with respect to the plain and faithful preaching of the doctrines of the reformation ; of original sin ; regeneration, by the super- natural influences of the DIVINE SPIRIT; justification by faith ; effectual calling ; and the saints' perseverance. These doctrines were very little preached and insisted on, by some of the clergy. Some were evidently Arminians. Others there were who preached nothing distinguishing, so that it could be told what their opinions were.
Imprisoning the separate preachers, and the cruel man- ner in which they were treated, tended to alienate them, and fix them in their prejudices and separation.
With respect to some of the errors, which some of the separates seemed to hold at first, I do not find, by inquiry, that ever they preached or propagated them : especially, with respect to the doctrine of the Trinity, they preached nothing, I believe, contrary to sound doctrine. Exclusive of some peculiarities, more especially relative to the con- stitutions of churches and church discipline, they maintain- ed the doctrines contained in the Westminster catechism and confession of faith.
+ At Plainfield this was in fact the case, as is proved by the manuscripts of the gentleman ordained, now in my hands. He was persuaded to be or- dained by the importunity of the ordaining council, who hoped that, by Iris prudence and good sense, he would unite them,
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BOOK II.
As to the admission of persons to their communion and church discipline, they were as strict as the standing churches, at that time, if not more so. They as much in- sisted on the necessity of sanctification and a holy life, that men might be saved, as did the standing ministers and. churches. Some of their preachers were exemplary, and, considering their advantages, were good preachers. This character is given of the separate church, and of Mr. Thomas Stephens, their pastor, at Plainfield, by the Rev. Mr. Rowland, who was contemporary with him during the whole of his ministry, viz. :- " Although some things ap- peared among them, at first, very unwarrantable ; yet, considering their infant state, it must be acknowledged by all that were acquainted with them, that they were a peo- ple, in general, conscientiously engaged for maintaining and promoting the truth ; and the said Mr. Stephens, their minister, was a very clear and powerful preacher of the gospel, as must be acknowledged by all that heard him ; especially, considering his education, which was hardly equal to common learning."*
How far enthusiasm may consist with true religion, it is difficult to determine. Governor Hutchinson relates of the Boston enthusiasts, who were banished for their errors, that " many of them returned, and were employed in posts of honour and trust ; were exemplary in their lives and conversation ; and their letters and private papers shewed that they were pious and devout; and, with the name of Antinomians, paid the strictest regard to moral virtue."t I cannot but hope, from the best information I have been able to obtain, that this was the case with many of the sepa- rates. They gradually became sensible of many of their errors, and renounced them.}
Of all the ministers and churches in the colony, those of the county of New-Haven manifested the greatest op- position to the work which was carried on in the land, in the religious revival, and adopted the most severe and ty- rannical measures to suppress it. They not only suspend- ed the ministers who ordained Mr. Lee over a congrega-
* Manuscripts of the Rev. David Rowland.
+ Hutchinson's History of Massachusetts, vol. i. p. 75.
# In an Historical Narrative and Declaration, agreed upon at Killingly, by a number of their churches, convened at that place, Sept. 19th, 1781, they confess and condemn most of the errors of the first separates ; and express their willingness to hold communion with such of the standing churches, as required a credible profession of christianity, in the admission of members to full communion in their churches, and had renounced the half way practice, as it was called. They also declared their assent to the Westminster catechism, and the confession of faith in the Cambridge and Saybrook platforms.
Observa- tions con- tinued.
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tional church, from their associational communion ; but Book II. they undertook to reprimand the church, for not forming on the constitution, and adopting the Cambridge platform. They reprimanded Mr. Cook, for assisting in the formation of the church in New-Haven. They, indeed, proceeded so far as to shut their pulpits against the ministers of the whole presbytery of New-Brunswick, for their disorderly conduct, in intermeddling with the separation at Milford, until they should make proper satisfaction .*
They seem to have rendered themselves unpopular, and to have awakened the general resentment of their brethren. In June, 1749, the general association was at the Rev. Mr. Noyes' : four members only met. There seems to have been such a disagreement between the ministers at this time, that they would not meet together. Two general associations successively, were so thin, that no business was transacted. But, notwithstanding the unreasonable and powerful opposition made to the work of God at this time, and all the clamour which was made about errors and disorders, it was the most glorious and extensive revi- val of religion, and reformation of manners, which this country ever experienced. It is estimated that in the term. of two or three years thirty or forty thousand souls were born into the family of heaven, in New-England, besides great numbers in New-York and New-Jersey, and in the more southern provinces.
The effects on great numbers, were abiding and most happy. They were the most uniform, exemplary chris- tians, with whom I was ever acquainted. I was born, and had my education, in that part of the town of Hebron, in which the work was mnost prevalent and powerful. Many at that time imagined they were born of God, made a pro- fession of their faith in Christ, were admitted to full com- munion, and appeared to walk with God. They were ex- traordinary for their constant and serious attention on the public worship; they were prayerful, righteous, peaceable and charitable. They kept up their religious meetings for prayer, reading and religious conversation, for many years. They were strict in the religion and government of their families, and I never knew that any one of them was ever guilty of scandal, or fell under discipline. About eight or ten years after the religious revival and reformation, that part of the town was made a distinct society, and it was mentioned to Mr. Lothrop, the pastor elect, as an encour- agement to settle with them, that there was not a drunkard in the whole parish. While I lived in it, I did not know * Records of the association of the county of New-Haven, 17.13.
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Book II. one prayerless family among his people, nor ever heard of one.
Some of those people, who dated their conversion from' that period, lived until they were far advanced in life ; and after I was settled in the ministry, I became acquainted with them in one place and another. They appeared to be some of the most consistent, practical christians, with whom I ever had an acquaintance. Their light shone be- fore men, through a long life, and brightened as they ad- vanced on their way. Some I was called to visit, in their last moments, in full possession of their rational powers, who appeared perfectly to acquiesce in the will of God, to die in the full assurance of faith, and in perfect triumph over the last enemy.
But the principal instruments of this work, Whitefield, Pomeroy, Wheelock, Bellamy, &c. were spoken of by the opposers as the worst of men, even with contempt and abhorrence. At the same time they were ever greatly es- teemed and beloved by the warm, zealous, experimental christians in the country, and many owned them as their fathers in CHRIST .*
* The incomparable Cowper, under the name of LEUCONOMUS, thus characterizes Mr. Whitefield :
He lov'd the world that hated him : the tear That dropp'd upon his bible was sincere : Assail'd by scandal and the tongue of strife, His only answer was, a blameless life ; And he that forg'd, and he that threw the dart, Had each a brothers' interest in his heart. Paul's love of CHRIST, and steadiness unbrib'd, Were copied close in him, and well transcrib'd.
Ile followed Paul ; his zeal a kindred flame, His apostolic charity the same ; Like him, cross'd cheerfully tempestuous seas, Forsaking country, kindred, friends, and ease ; Like him, he labor'd, and like him content 'To bear it, suffer'd shame where'er he went. Blush calumny ! and upon his tomb, If honest eulogy can spare the room, 'Thy deep repentance of thy thousand lies, Which aim'd at him, have pierc'd the offended skies, And say, blot out my sin, confess'd, deplor'd, Against thine image in thy saint, O LORD. Cowper's Poems, vol. i. p. 126.
Dr. Haweis speaks of him, as instrumental of more conversions than any man, since the apostle Paul,
CHAP. IX.
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CHAPTER IX.
Spanish and French war. The colony put into a state of de- fence. Expedition against the Spanish settlements in the West-Indies. Regiments raised in the colonies. His ma- jesty's requisition of the colony. The measures adopted in compliance with it. Porto Bello attacked, taken and. plundered. Unsuccessful expedition against Carthagena and Cuba. The French declare war against England. Canso taken by the French. Expedition against Cape Breton. It surrenders to Admiral Warrren and General Pepperell. Sickness among the Provincials who kept garrison there. The effects of its capture on the French court. The Duke d'Anville's armament. Alarm in New- England. His total failure. Supplies furnished by Con- necticut during the war. The general effects of it on the colonies. Pacification.
S the differences which at this time subsisted between Oct. 11til, the courts of Great-Britain and Spain, threatened the 1739.
speedy commencement of hostilities between the two na- tions, the general assembly passed several acts for the pur- The colo- pose of putting the colony into a state of defence. It was ny put into ordered that ten cannon should be procured and put into defence. the battery at New-London, and that it should be well fur- nished with ammunition. It was also provided that cannon and swivels should be provided for a sloop of war : and that the new towns on the frontiers should be provided with arms and ammunition for their defence. The militia were also now formed into regiments, and a colonel, lieutenant- colonel, and major were appointed to each regiment. The militia thus formed consisted of thirteen regiments.
About the same time war was declared between the two nations : expeditions were soon undertaken against the Spanish Spanish West-Indies, Porto Bello, Carthagena and Cuba. ogd' Requisitions were made ou the colonies to assist in these Expedi- enterprises. It was contemplated that four regiments tions a- should be raised in the colonies in America, to be trans- gainst the ported to Jamaica, there to form a junction with a power- West-In .. Spanish ful armament from Great-Britain. His majesty required dies. that the expense of victualling the troops and of providing all necessaries for them until they should join the arma- ment in the West-Indies, and of their transportation, ex- cept their clothing, pay, arms, tents and ammunition, should be borne by the colonies. Connecticut engaged I 2
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